STCW Basic Training: The Four Courses Explained
STCW Basic Training (sometimes called BST or just "Basic Training") is a set of four safety courses that becomes an endorsement on your MMC. It's usually completed together over about a week, combining classroom instruction with hands-on drills.
The four courses
- Personal Survival Techniques (PST): water survival skills, life raft procedures, abandon-ship drills.
- Basic Firefighting (BFF): live firefighting drills and shipboard fire response.
- Elementary First Aid / CPR: basic medical response for shipboard emergencies.
- Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR): shipboard safety culture, communication, and emergency procedures.
Who needs it
STCW Basic Training is mainly required for merchant mariners serving aboard STCW-regulated vessels, generally oceangoing or international voyages, in positions on the muster list. If you're targeting purely domestic or inland work, check with your employer or the National Maritime Center's STCW page (opens in new tab) before assuming you need it, since requirements differ by vessel type and route.
Renewal
The STCW Basic Training endorsement renews on the same 5-year cycle as your MMC, so it's typically refreshed as part of your regular MMC renewal rather than tracked separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the four STCW Basic Training courses?
Personal Survival Techniques (PST), Basic Firefighting (BFF), Elementary First Aid/CPR, and Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR). They're typically completed together over about a week.
Do I need STCW if I only work domestic or inland routes?
Not necessarily. STCW Basic Training is mainly required for STCW-regulated vessels, generally oceangoing or international voyages. Merchant Mariners on purely domestic routes, like inland towing vessels, may not need it. Confirm with your employer or the National Maritime Center before assuming either way.
Is STCW a separate document from my MMC?
No. It's an endorsement added onto your MMC, not a standalone credential, and it renews on the same 5-year cycle as your MMC.