STCW Basic Safety Training, Explained

7 min read · Audio Fastlane

If you are getting into yachting, STCW Basic Safety Training is the very first box you have to tick. It is the safety qualification no commercial yacht will employ you without — so here is exactly what it is, what's in it, and how long it lasts.

What STCW actually is

STCW stands for the international convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. Basic Safety Training is the entry-level package every crew member on a commercial yacht needs, whatever department they work in. It exists for one reason: so that if something goes wrong on board, every single person knows what to do.

The four courses

• Personal Survival Techniques — abandoning ship, liferafts, lifejackets and surviving in the water (this is the one with the pool session).
• Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting — spotting, containing and physically fighting fire on board.
• Elementary First Aid — immediate casualty care to keep someone alive until help arrives.
• Personal Safety & Social Responsibility — working safely, your rights and responsibilities, and living alongside a crew.

If you'll be on a vessel that the ISPS security code applies to, you'll also complete Proficiency in Security Awareness, and crew with assigned security duties take a further designated security duties course.

How long it takes and what it costs

The four courses are usually run together as a single block over roughly five to seven days. Cost varies by school and country, but it is one of the cheaper steps into the industry — the bigger expense is usually travel and living costs while you then look for work. Many providers bundle STCW into a wider deckhand or stewardess course with extra skills and CV support.

How often you have to renew it

STCW Basic Safety Training is not a one-and-done. The survival and fire fighting elements require refresher training every five years to stay valid; the first aid and personal safety elements do not expire in the same way. If your certificates lapse, you'll need to update them before you can work.

Do this in the right order

One piece of advice that saves people money: book your ENG1 medical before you pay for STCW. The ENG1 is the fitness-for-sea medical, and colour blindness is the most common reason people fail it — there's no point spending on courses if you can't pass the medical. We walk through the full beginner path, ENG1 included, in how to become a superyacht deckhand.

With STCW and ENG1 in hand you're eligible to look for work. The next job is a sharp CV — see how to write a yacht CV.

Frequently asked questions