The STCW Basic Safety Training consists of four courses covering personal safety, survival, medical emergencies, and firefighting. The courses are designed to satisfy the safety requirements for any mariner on any size of vessel. The training was established by the International Maritime Organization in 1978 and has since been revised several times to improve safety standards worldwide for professional mariners. The entire Basic Safety Training can typically be completed over four days and is required for anyone sailing outside of certain boundary lines or on vessels over 200 gross tons.

1. STCW Basic Safety Training

2. Function
The Standards of Training, Certification,
& Watch keeping were created as stand
ards that professional mariners must
comply with on an international level.
STCW provides different levels of
certifications depending on the capacity
and type of vessel the mariner will be
working on. The Basic Training course
satisfies the safety requirements for
any mariner on any size vessel.
History
The International Maritime Organization
is located in London, England, and is a
part of the United Nations. In 1978, the
International Maritime Organization
gathered to improve the standards for
safety and training worldwide. The STCW
code was adopted by the members of the
organization on July 7, 1978. The code has
been updated and revised four times; in
1991, 1994, 1995 and 1997.

3. Courses
Basic training consists of four different
courses; Personal Safety and Social
Responsibility, Personal Survival
Techniques, Medical Emergencies at Sea
and Basic Firefighting. The entire Basic
Safety Training course can be taken over
the course of four days. Personal Safety
and Social Responsibility is covered in
four hours, Personal Survival Techniques
is covered in 12 hours, Medical
Emergencies at Sea is covered in eight
hours and Basic Firefighting is covered in
16 hours.
Applicability
The STCW applies to all mariners who
intend to sail outside of the boundary
line. The boundary line is the separation
point of rivers or bays and waters near a
coast. It also applies to vessels that weigh
over 200 gross tons or are passenger
vessels that weigh more than 100 gross
tons. Towing vessels that are not
inspected or vessels that are going to be
sailing to foreign waters are also subject
to the STCW.

4. Content
The Personal Safety and Social Responsibility course covers emergency procedures,
preventing pollution, safe working practices, being understood relating to duties and
effective human relationships. Covered in the Personal Survival Techniques course are the
following topics: survival at sea, emergency radio equipment and preparation for
emergencies, evacuation and lifesaving equipment. The Medical Emergencies at Sea course
covers assessment of the scene and patient, vital signs, life-threatening conditions and
hypothermia. The final course, Basic Firefighting, covers fire detection, prevention,
equipment and strategy. It also involves eight hours of hands-on training where fires are
fought using water, carbon dioxide and foam extinguishers.

5. Article Source: eHow.com
Photo Credit: SuperYachtCrewTraining.com.au