STCW – Personal Survival Techniques (PST)

Course category: STCW Courses (Basic Training)
Approved by: Liberian Registry
Available language: English
Duration: 15h

Complete the course at your own time and place, save time and money with asynchronous e-learning. All you need is an internet-enabled device available (desktop/laptop/tablet/smartphone and a couple of days.

No transportation costs • No wasted time • Also available on board • No physical attendance

Who should attend: The course is open to all seafarers and prospective seafarers and should be completed prior to employment on a sea-going ship.

Objectives and Benefits: The aim of this course is to meet the mandatory minimum standards of competence for seafarers for safety familiarization, basic training and instruction in personal survival techniques in accordance with section A-VI/1, and as set out in table A-VI/1-1 of the STCW Code. Seafarers employed as part of a ship’s complement, or engaged in any capacity on board ships on the business of those ships, with designated safety or pollution-prevention duties in the operation of the ship shall, before being assigned to any shipboard duties, receive appropriate approved basic training or instruction in personal survival techniques as set out in table A-VI/1-1 of the STCW Code. The course covers the KUPs (knowledge, understanding and proficiency) in table A-VI/1-1 of the STCW Code, and trainees successfully completing this course will gain knowledge and skills to be able to survive at sea in the event of ship abandonment.

Competences

1. Comprehend the safety guidance for survival at sea.
2. Identify the emergency situations and mustering.
3. Understand the procedures during evacuation.
4. Comprehend how to use personal life-saving appliances.
5. Identify how the survival craft and rescue boats are launched and operated.
6. Understand how to use emergency radio equipment.
7. Identify the survivor’s actions when being rescued.
8. Identify the survivor’s actions when required to abandon the ship, when in the water and aboard a survival craft.

Certificate: A certificate is issued upon course completion, that allows seafarers to get their Competence Certificate anywhere, provided that such a successful completion certificate is fully supported and by all other documents required as per STCW code or their National or Vessels Flag Administration requirements.

Legislation & References:

IMO References

1. The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended
2. International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended
3. IAMSAR Manual – Volume III
4. Guide for Cold Water Survival (MSC.1/-Circ.1185-Rev.1)
5. IMO Life-Saving Appliances Code (LSA Code)
6. Symbols Related to Life-saving Appliances and Arrangements, as amended (IMO Resolution A. 760(18))
7. IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP)
8. Pocket Guide to Recovery Techniques (MSC.1-Circ.1182-Rev.1)
9. The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), 1995, as amended
10. Measures to Prevent Accidents with Lifeboats (MSC.1/Circ.1206/Rev.1)
11. International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code)
12. Code of Safety for Fishermen and IMO Fishing Vessels

Textbooks

• Brown’s Guide to Survival at Sea, Item Attributes, Published date: July 2015, ISBN978-1-84927-053-3
• Survival at Sea: The Lifeboat and Life raft, C. H. Wright, Brian Davies: Brown, Son & Ferguson Ltd; 5th revised edition (2000.8)
• Marine Combat Water Survival United States Marine Corps, Borgo Press (2004.2), and PCN: 144 000069 00

Certification issuance:

1. For seafarers

The course is open to all seafarers and prospective seafarers and should be completed prior to employment on a sea-going ship. The certificate issued upon the course completion (one certificate per course for each of the 4 courses of the full STCW Basic Refresher), allows seafarers to get their Competence Certificate anywhere, provided that such a successful completion certificate is fully supported and by all other documents required as per STCW code or their National or Vessels Flag Administration requirements. The courses are approved by Liberia and can be used to renew CoC in the following flags:

2. For non-seafarers e.g. cruise/yacht non-marine crew

The course is available to non-marine personnel like cruise ships or yachts non-marine crew and should be completed prior to employment on a sea-going ship. The certificate issued upon the course completion (one certificate per course for each of the 4 courses of the full STCW Basic Refresher), allows you to travel in any vessel under any STCW whitelisted flag (PDF file).

Certificate Validity Duration: Upon completion of the course, the certificate obtained is valid for a period of 5 (five) years.

Terms and conditions:

The course certificate is subject to the following conditions: a) the e-course can be taken for renewal purposes only, by a seafarer having been previously STCW certified and holding a seaman’s book; b) applying seafarer shall provide either a self-attestation or attestation signed by Master, Chief Mate, Chief Engineer, Second Engineer or Designated Person Ashore (DPA) (if self-attestation cannot be provided due to the reasons of changing the company/vessel) both confirming practical experience and skills. Specific forms for both types of attestations shall be used (will be provided). In case of provision of self-attestation by the seafarer according to the aforementioned, validity of the certificate issued is subject to submission of proof of practical training within one (1) year from the date of issuance of the certificate by the Liberian Registry either by way of attestation as already mentioned (signed by Master, Chief Mate, Chief Engineer or DPA) or in realistic training conditions in a specialized training center; d) All parts of the practical requirements have to be met by the seafarer. If any part of practical training has not been confirmed, the Registry may consider issuance of a certificate but limited to one-year duration; and e) the Liberian Registry may suspend issued certificates if the conditions outlined above have not been met.

Documents required to attend: After purchasing this course you shall receive instructions in order to provide the following documentation: