STCW online courses for seafarers (2024)

The Basic Safety Training course will allow participants to understand the dangers and risks of being on board of a ship and how to act accordingly in emergency situations. The trainees will also learn how to save themselves, provide First Aid and fight fires by receiving appropriate training in personal survival techniques, fire prevention and firefighting, elementary first aid, and personal safety and social responsibilities. The components of the BST course generally includes a Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF) course, a Personal Survival Techniques (PST) course, a Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (PSSR) course, and α Elementary First Aid (EFA) course.

During this course the participant is taught how to deal with emergency situations and how to take charge in case a survival craft or rescue boat need to be operated during and after launch. He will also be able to operate a survival craft engine and manage survivors and survival craft after abandoning ship, he will know the correct use of all locating devices, including communication, and signaling apparatus and pyrotechnics and the actions to take to preserve the lives of those in his charge.

During this course the participant is taught to check the readiness, the handling and how to take charge of a Fast Rescue Boat. It is aimed at personnel who will be operating fast rescue boats onboard vessels and consists of training to meet the learning objectives and stated outcomes for proficiency according to the applicable requirements.

During this course the candidates are taught how to apply immediate first aid in the event of accident or illness on board. This course gives the learner the basic understanding of the general principles of first aid. It includes general body physiology, a look at various injuries and how to deal with them, and an overview of infectious diseases and how to prevent them.

During the course the candidates are taught how to provide medical care to the sick and injured while they remain on board and how to participate in coordinated schemes for medical assistance to ships. On completion of this course trainees will have the knowledge of medical stores and equipment on board and be able: (a) to understand how to participate in the coordinated provision of medical care to a person on board, (b) to assess and provide care to an ill person on board, and (c) to assess and provide care to an injured casualty on board.

The candidates will be trained to deal with Safety Training, Crowd Management, Crisis Management, Human Behavior and Passenger Safety, Cargo Safety and Hull Integrity on board passenger vessels. The aim of this course is to train seafarers how to organize shipboard emergency procedures, how to implement an emergency plan and control passengers and other personnel during emergencies. Needless to emphasize that it is mandatory for any person designated on the muster list of having responsibility for the safety of passengers in emergency situations.

The General Operators Certificate (GOC) is the highest level GMDSS radio operator qualification and is suitable for professional mariners including Merchant Navy deck officers, offshore radio operators serving on mobile platforms, and commercial yacht masters. The GMDSS ROC (Restricted Operators Certificate) is the minimum level of maritime radio qualification required by a professional seafarer. It is suitable for pilots, port control operators, offshore, windfarm and workboat operators and fishermen operating in coastal waters. A candidate successfully completing this course will be able to efficiently operate the GMDSS subsystems, fulfilling the functional requirements of GMDSS and provide radio services in emergencies. Given the problems being experienced in the GMDSS, as a result of the large number of false distress alerts that sometimes occur, training will also be provided in techniques to avoid the unintentional transmission of false distress alerts by using the most modern and latest edition of WARTSILA TGS Simulator.

Radars have been playing a vital role in ship navigation for several decades now, assisting in collision avoidance and early detection of obstacles. ARPA provides all the necessary information for the radar users and helps in saving a lot of critical time from observing a target to finding the data using radar plotting and calculations. Collision avoidance and detection data is thus readily available to the radar users, just by a click on the target. During this course, the candidates are taught the elements which are necessary to understand the system configuration, principles, performance of shipborne marine Radar and ARPA, the factors affecting radar performance, how radar information is obtained, displayed and analyzed, the limitations and accuracy of that information, the correct use of operational controls to obtain an optimal display and use radar information for decision making maintaining in that way safety of navigation. For this purpose, the most modern and latest version of WARTSILA NTPRO Simulator is used.

Besides enhancing navigational safety, ECDIS greatly eases the navigator’s workload with its automatic capabilities such as route planning, route monitoring, automatic ETA computation and ENC updating. In addition, ECDIS provides many other sophisticated navigation and safety features, including continuous data recording for later analysis. This course provides training in the knowledge, skill and understanding of the use of Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS). For practical capabilities, exercises are performed by using the most modern and latest version of WARTSILA which will provide in setting up and maintaining an ECDIS display, in planning and monitoring a route, in using basic navigational functions and equipment in a real-time navigational environment, in activating updates and in performing proper actions which are necessary to safely navigate vessels.

Upon successful completion of this training, a trainee should possess the necessary knowledge, skills and competence to carry out basic duties related to the safe loading, discharging, and care in transit or handling of cargoes on board oil/chemical tankers. This includes a fundamental understanding of the characteristics and hazards associated with different cargoes, as well as relevant regulations and codes governing their transportation. The trainee will also be able to identify risks and take appropriate measures to mitigate them, ensuring the safe and efficient transportation. This course provides a foundation for further specialized training and experience required to assume greater responsibilities on board oil/chemical tankers. This course is designed for personnel holding specific duties and responsibilities related to cargo or cargo equipment on oil/chemical tankers. The course focuses on oil and chemical tanker safety, fire safety measures, pollution prevention, operational practices, and obligations under applicable laws and regulations.

This course is designed for personnel with immediate responsibility for loading, discharging, care in transit, handling of cargo-related operations on chemical tankers. It constitutes an Advanced Training Program appropriate to their duties, including chemical tanker safety, fire safety measures, pollution prevention, operational practice and obligations under applicable laws and regulations. Tanker terminal and ship management personnel will build on previous experience and gain a detailed appreciation of the safety aspects involved in the handling and carriage of chemical cargoes.

This course is designed for personnel with immediate responsibility for loading, discharging, care in transit, handling of cargo tank cleaning or other cargo related operations on liquefied gas tankers. It comprises of a specialized training program appropriate to their duties, including gas tanker safety, fire safety measures and systems, pollution prevention, operational practice and obligations under applicable laws and regulations.

It is a practical and theoretical training course, aimed at helping the trainees gain experience in handling ships under various conditions, and learning how to more effectively contribute to the bridge team during ship maneuvering. It has been designed to enable Masters and Deck Officers to further develop their existing knowledge, skills, and understanding of the behavior and handling of ships in various operating conditions. The theory will review basic principles, rules and regulations within ship handling and instructions for use of ship maneuvering equipment. Practical navigational ship handling scenarios are performed by using the most modern and latest version of WARTSILA NTPRO Full Mission Bridge Simulator and four additional Bridge Simulators in open and narrow waters with a choice of 50 geographical areas and 50 own ships, with an unlimited number of target ships.

The overall aim of this course is to assist the participating Engineer Officers to acquire knowledge and develop skills relating to the effective operation, supervision and monitoring of ship’s propulsion plant and machinery, acting as a team. It has been designed to provide knowledge and expertise related to operation, supervision, and monitoring of the safe operation and control of a ship’s machinery plant. Most importantly, the candidates will be able to familiarize themselves with the use of instruments and controls used in engine rooms of modern merchant ships, and become aware of the need for proper pre-planning, the use of checklists, and of the time scale involved in starting up propulsion plant machinery. They will gain experience in identifying operational problems and how to deal with trouble-shooting, and also to gain the ability to make decisions that promote safety. Practical exercises will be demonstrated by using the most modern and latest version of WARTSILA ERS TechSim Simulator.

Two important aspects of group communication, especially in the business environment, are teamwork and leadership which have a direct impact on the ability for an organization to carry out its mission. The course covers those areas of leadership techniques and skills pertinent to professional mariners. Course information and presentations reflect academic writings and “real life” experiences of individuals who have been in positions of leadership and have been (or are) responsible for the success of the organization and the success of the individuals who work for and support the organization. The course further provides communication techniques and skills that assist and augment the individual in his or her efforts to become a successful leader.

Under the International Safety Management (ISM) code, every ship must appoint a Ship Safety Officer (SSO) who has the knowledge, experience, and skills to look over the important safety issues related to ship safety and crew’s well-being. The main duties of the Ship’s Security Officer (SSO) include implementation and maintenance of a ship security plan while working closely with the Company Security Officer (CSO) and the Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO). The training for Ship Security Officer (SSO) is intended for seafarers working on board vessels requiring qualification and employment as a Ship Security Officer. The Ship Security officer (SSO) course is designed to ensure both the security of the ship as well as the implementation and support of the ship security plan.

This course is comprised of the functions at management and operational level according to the applicable requirements of the STCW 78/95 (including 2010 Manila Amendments). On successful completion of training and assessment, trainees should be competent to serve in certain functions and to carry out safely all of their required duties with their corresponding levels of responsibility. Holders of Certificates of Competence issued by various flag Administrations (e.g. Honduras, Cook islands, Panama) have a great opportunity in joining vessels which are entitled to fly flags serving merchant shipping globally.

The Electro-Technical Officer (ETO) as a licensed member of the Engine Department on board, monitors all onboard electronic and electrical equipment – maximizing the operational safety and efficiency of the vessel. This course covers aspects related to the basics of marine engineering, marine electrical and electronic systems and safety technology systems according to the applicable requirements of the STCW 78/95 (including 2010 Manila Amendments). On successful completion of training and assessment, trainees should be competent to serve in certain functions as ETOs and to carry out safely all of their required duties with their corresponding levels of responsibility.

A Rating Forming Part of a Navigational/ Engineering Watch (RFPNW/RFPEW) is a qualified rating, designed to fulfill the Support Level in the Deck/Engine Department. STCW requires all ratings forming part of a Navigational/Engineering watch on seagoing vessels to be duly certificated to perform these duties. This includes entry-level ratings standing navigational/engineering watches. This course addresses the components required by the STCW 78/95 (including 2010 Manila Amendments) for the position of Rating Forming Part of Navigational/ Engineering Watch.

All seafarers employed or engaged on board ship as ETR shall demonstrate a minimum knowledge, understanding and proficiency such as to monitor all onboard electronic and electrical equipment and maximizes the operational safety and efficiency of the vessel working at the support level. This course addresses the components required by the STCW 78/95 (including 2010 Manila Amendments) for the position of Electrotechnical Rating.

An Able Seafarer Deck/Engine is a qualified rating at the Support Level in the Deck/Engine Department on seagoing vessels. Duties include, but are not limited to, standing navigational/engineering watches, security watches, maintaining the safety and security of the ship, her cargo and personnel and undertaking a range of practical seafarer skills including rope work, anchoring, mooring activities and the general operation of the ship and her systems. This course addresses the components required by the STCW 78/95 (including 2010 Manila Amendments) for the position of Rating as Able Seafarer Deck/Engine.

This course provides training to Deck Officers to operate ships in polar waters and to address those additional provisions as required by the Polar Code, in order to take into account the climatic conditions of polar waters and to meet appropriate standards of maritime safety and pollution prevention. This course has been developed to familiarize participants while navigating in ice-covered areas including specific problems that come with it, to increase the safety of ships' operation and mitigate the impact on the people and environment in the remote, vulnerable and potentially harsh icy zones. The trainees will obtain the appropriate knowledge which in conjunction with relevant Company’s Instructions constitute a very good practice for them when trading in polar waters.

This course is a STCW Advanced Fire Fighting course which is aimed at officers and senior crewmembers and covers emergency response drills and rescue scenarios including the role of the on-board commander in the event of a shipboard emergency. During this training the course participant obtains the correct knowledge and skills in order to lead a crew on board in case of fire. Moreover, he is taught on what to do when a fire is discovered, how to control fire-fighting operations aboard ships, how to organize and train fire parties, how to inspect and service fire detection and extinguishing systems/equipment and how to investigate and compile reports on incidents involving fires.