EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STCW TRAINING
The article from Dockwalk explores the importance of yacht crew training and certification in the yacht industry. If you're looking to work as a crew on a yacht, you won't be able to set foot onboard without having taken the STCW Basic Training course. Here's what makes this certification so important and what you can expect if you're planning to take the course.
What is the STCW?
STCW stands for Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping, and it is an international convention that sets the standard for training for anyone working on a commercial vessel. The rules have become more comprehensive over time, evolving into the STCW certification that is required by any member of crew working on a commercial vessel over 24 meters.
Why do you need STCW?
The STCW Basic Safety Training certification is mandatory for most jobs in the yachting industry, and even yachts that are privately owned and under 24 meters require this certification at the very minimum. It certifies that an individual is able to identify safety hazards at sea and knows how to respond in an emergency situation.
What does STCW involve?
1. Personal Survival Techniques (A-VI/1-1): How to survive at sea in the event of an emergency, including how to launch a life raft and use safety equipment.
2. Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (A-VI/1-2): How to identify and extinguish different types of fire, including practical knowledge of fire fighting equipment and breathing apparatus, and how to prevent fires from starting.
3. Elementary First Aid (A-VI/1-3): How to respond to and care for an injured member of crew, including CPR, bandaging, the dos and don'ts of moving a patient, and how to improvise.
4. Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (A-VI/1-4): How to prevent accidents and understand safety procedures and safe working practices.
5. Proficiency in Security Awareness (A-V1/6): Initially, the STCW Basic Safety Training course was split into just four core modules. Proficiency in Security Awareness was added to the revised STCW 2010 Code in 2014 to provide essential training to crew in the event of a security threat such as piracy or armed robbery.
While some parts of the course will be theoretical, other parts will be much more physically demanding, and candidates will likely be required to complete a medical declaration form before starting the course. During the course, you will be asked to complete tasks such as carrying casualties from a burning building, pulling yourself and others from deep water into a liferaft, and lifting crewmates out of enclosed spaces on a stretcher.
How long does it take to complete and how much does it cost?
A five-day STCW Basic Safety Training course costs approximately £700–£1,000 in the UK and Europe and approximately US$900–$1,000 if taken in the United States.
Does the STCW certificate expire?
STCW certification needs to be renewed every five years. Those who hold a STCW can take part in a refresher course.
If you're interested in reading the full article, head over to Dockwalk. Additionally, for more resources and support related to the yachting industry or maritime, check out Crew Pages, a comprehensive online community for seafarers.