STCW Training for Cruise Jobs
The international safety training seafarers need, explained simply.
Plan a Cruise VacationSTCW is the international standard for seafarers’ safety training. You will almost certainly need it, so it pays to understand what it is before you enroll anywhere.
What STCW Is
The STCW Convention — the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers — is maintained by the International Maritime Organization. It sets minimum training and certification standards for people working on seagoing ships. Countries that are party to it, through their maritime administrations, approve training providers and issue or endorse certificates.
Basic Training: The Four Elements
Personal survival techniques
Life jackets, survival craft, abandoning ship and survival in the water.
Fire prevention and fire fighting
How fires start and spread, extinguishers, breathing apparatus and team fire fighting.
Elementary first aid
Immediate care until medical help is available.
Personal safety and social responsibilities
Safe working practices, emergency procedures, communication and life on board.
Extra Training for Passenger Ships
Cruise ships are passenger ships, so the STCW Code adds training for crew who work with guests. Everyone on board receives emergency familiarization. Crew who serve guests in passenger areas take additional safety training. Crew assigned on the muster list to help guests in an emergency take crowd management training, and those with responsibility for passenger safety in emergencies take crisis management and human behavior training. Security awareness training is also required, with further training for crew who have designated security duties.
Officers and ratings in the deck and engine departments need certificates of competency or proficiency for their specific roles, which involve more training and sea time.
Before You Book a Course
- Ask the cruise line or its authorized hiring partner which courses your role requires.
- Check that the training center is approved by a maritime administration the line accepts.
- Be wary of anyone who links a course purchase to a “guaranteed” job.
- Keep certificates, dates and course numbers together; you will be asked for them.
- Plan for refresher requirements, which vary by administration.
STCW Questions
Do all cruise ship workers need STCW training?
Every seafarer needs safety familiarization, and most crew need STCW basic training before joining. Crew on passenger ships also need passenger-ship training suited to their duties. The cruise line will specify which courses your role requires.
Does it matter where I take my STCW course?
Yes. Courses must be approved by a maritime administration, and some flag states accept only certain approvals. Check with the cruise line before you pay for a course.
Do STCW certificates expire?
Seafarers must show continued competence in some basic training elements at intervals of up to five years. Exactly which elements and how depends on the administration that issued the certificate.
Thinking About a Career at Sea?
Experiencing a cruise as a guest is a good first step. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise can send free quotes.
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