STCW Personal Survival Techniques

This training is intended to meet the requirements set out in Table A-VI/1-1 of the STCW Code and unit A11 of the marine national occupational standards. The greatest and most immediate threat to life in the event of abandoning ship is cold exposure. Precautions to protect against it, together with knowledge of survival equipment and its use, is the main message of this training. Other problems that a survivor will encounter are covered so as to ensure the highest possible chances of survival. 

The objective of the training is to give all persons intending to go to sea the essential basic knowledge and experience of personal survival principles and techniques that can be applied to maximise their chances.

The aim is to give an understanding of how to use the safety equipment carried onboard. This course covers preparation for survival, lifejackets, search & rescue and a practical session with a liferaft in a local pool.

Theoretical Element

• Main types of maritime emergencies

• Types of life-saving appliances

• Survival craft

• Equipment in survival craft

• Location of personal life-saving appliances

• Principles of survival during a maritime emergency

Practical Element

• How to don a lifejacket

• How to safely jump from a height into water

• How to right an inverted raft whilst wearing a lifejacket

• How to swim whilst wearing a lifejacket

• How to board a survival craft from the water whilst wearing a lifejacket

• What initial actions you need to take when boarding survival craft

• How to operate survival craft equipment

• Correctly don and use an immersion suit 

• Keep afloat without a lifejacket

• Age 16+

• Tea, Coffee and light refreshments 

• Use of lifejacket and survival suit

• Course Handbook