You will find it difficult to obtain a job in yachting unless you have an STCW 95 crew basic training certificate. This course provides training to seafarers in topics such as communication, organisation, group behavior, safety and personal interaction, which influence human relationships aboard ship.

It covers the minimum training requirements outlined in the Standards of Training, Certification andWatch keeping for Seafarers (STCW). Basic training takes place over 5 days and comprises 4 courses. These are: Personal Survival Techniques, Personal Safety and Social Responsibility, Fire Prevention and Firefighting and Elementary First Aid. This article describes the 4 modules in more depth.

The Stcw 95 basic training course contains the essential safety information for anyone going to sea for the first time. Below is a brief synaposis of each of the 4 modules which comprise the course. Each of these modules can be taken seperately.

1. Comply with emergency procedures, including:
- types of emergency which may occur, such as collision, fire or foundering
- knowledge of shipboard contingency plans for response to emergencies
- emergency signals and specific duties allocated to crew members in the muster list;muster stations;correct use of personal safety equipment
- action to take on discovering potential emergency, including fire, collision, foundering, and ingress of water into the vessel
- action to take upon hearing emergency alarm signals
- value of training and drills
- knowledge of escape routes and internal communication and alarm systems

2. Take precautions to prevent pollution of the marine environment, such as:
- effects of operational or accidental pollution of the marine environment
- basic environmental protection procedures

3. Observe safe working practices:
- importance of adhering to safe working practices at all times
- safety and protective devices available to protect against potential hazards
- precautions to be taken prior to entering enclosed spaces
- familiarisation with international measures concerning accident prevention and occupational health

4. Understand orders and be understood in relation to shipboard duties:
- ability to understand orders and to communicate with others in relation to shipboard duties

5. Contribute to effective human relationships on board the vessel:
- importance of maintaining good human and working relationships aboard ship
- social responsibilities; employment conditions; individual rights and obligations; dangers of drug and alcohol abuse

1. Theory of combustion
2. Extinguishing methods
- starvation
- smothering
- cooling

3. Course of action when discovering a fire

4. Classification of fires

5. Fire Prevention
- fire consciousness
- good housekeeping
- safe practice

6. Fire Fighting Equipment
- fire extinguishers
- foam equipment and systems
- fire detection and extinguishing systems
- breathing apparatus

1. The Reason for Abandonment
2. Survival needs
3. Survival Gear
- Life rafts
- Davit launched life rafts
- Hydrostatic release units
- Life jackets
- Radio beacons
- Search and rescue transponder
- Immersion suits

3. Abandon Ship
- Early preparations
- The importance of the drills
- Abandoning the Vessel
- Righting a capsized life raft
- Actions once in the life raft
- Life raft management
- The waiting

1. adult basic life support
2. major bleeding
- applying wound dressing
- control of bleeding
3. internal bleeding
4. crush injuries
5. hypovolaemic shock
6. burns & scolds
7. treatment