The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), requires that seafarers be provided with “familiarization training” and “basic safety training” which includes basic fire fighting, elementary first aid, personal survival techniques, and personal safety and social responsibility. This training is intended to ensure that seafarers are aware of the hazards of working on a vessel and can respond appropriately in an emergency.
According to STCW, The STCW 95 Code requires that you take this 5-day course of instruction. This course has to be renewed every 5 years, The components generally includes:
- Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (Basic Fire fighting) course of 3 days
- Personal Survival Techniques (PST) course of 2.5 days
- Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (PSSR) course of 3 days and,
- Elementary First Aid course of 2.5 days
Basic Safety Training or BST is the starting point for persons seeking employment in the maritime industry.
Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities Course (PSSR)
The Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities course forms part of the mandatory basic safety training for all seafarers. The theory based PSSR course provides basic induction training in safety procedures and accident prevention, familiarising seafarers with employment and working conditions aboard.
The knowledge of and compliance with safe working practices at a basic level.
- Human relationships on-board ship.
- Understanding orders and to be understood in relation to shipboard duties.
- Compliance with emergency procedures.
- Precautions to prevent pollution of the marine environment.
The course is classroom based and covers these main areas:
- Comply with emergency procedures.
- Take precautions to prevent pollution of the marine environment.
- Observe safe working practices.
- Contribute to effective communications on board ship.
- Contribute to effective human relationships on board ship.
- Understand and take necessary actions to control fatigue.
- Duration 3 days.
Elementary First Aid (EFA)
Elementary First Aid (EFA) course is one of the four basic familiarization courses ,which a prospective seafarer must do before proceeding to the sea. These courses under the STCW Convention (Standards of Training Certification and Watch keeping) are IMO (International Maritime Organization) requirements and cover the basic knowledge about the Safety & Survival at sea. The present course fully covers the syllabus as prescribed in IMO model course on Elementary First Aid and meets the IMO STCW2010.
All those prospective seafarers and those already seafaring whose business takes them across the seas should possess knowledge of the means available to them to save themselves and assist in saving lives in an emergency. This handbook in addition to providing a reading material for Elementary First Aid course is also recommended for use on board. It is hoped that knowledge and experience gained on completion of the course will enable a prospective seafarer to respond in an efficient manner to emergency situations and which will contribute towards enhancement of safety of life at sea. The course will cover the regulation VIII read along’ Section A- VI/l-3 of Code A of STCW convention 1978 as amended in 2010.