Which Maritime Course Should I Take?

If you’re a prospective seafarer or looking to refresh your STCW, and you find yourself asking “Which Maritime Course Should I Take?” then you may be overwhelmed by the number of courses available when pursuing a maritime education. There are a variety of maritime courses offered, each with their own emphasis and focus.

There is no easy answer when it comes to finding the best maritime course. Every individual has different goals and preferences when it comes to your education and career. That said, we can offer advice about the different courses on offer at the Maritime Skills Academy and the opportunities they unlock.

Let’s dive in!

Basic Safety Training (BST)

Of all the courses we offer, our Basic Safety Training (BST) course opens the most doors by far.

The BST course covers all five modules that make up the Basic Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) certification, including:

Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting
Personal Survival Techniques
Elementary First Aid
Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities
Security Awareness

Holding the Basic STCW certification is a legal requirement for any mariner that works aboard a commercial vessel longer than 24 meters, including ferries, tankers, cruise ships, and more. In addition, the Basic STCW certification is a prerequisite for many more advanced courses that will help you advance your career at sea.

What Jobs Require Basic Safety Training (BST)?

The BST course allows students to pursue jobs aboard commercial vessels longer than 24 meters. More advanced courses may be required for specialised positions, but the course is a fantastic first step for anyone pursuing a career at sea.

STCW Refresher (updating courses as per Manila amendments)

Here are the refreshers that require updating every 5 years

UPST (0.5 days theory and practical)
UFP&FF (1 day practical)
UAFF (1 day theory)
UPSCRB (0.5 or 1 day Theory and practical)
UFRB (0.5 day or 1 day theory and practical)
UPMC (medical care 3 days practical)

These are mandatory for all people that work at sea to retake the courses every 5 years. These are shorter than the full course you would have taken the first time round. You also have the option to self declare onboard training so you can take shortened updating course.

Which Maritime Course Should You Take Maritime Skills Academy

GWO Basic Safety Training (BST)

GWO Basic Safety Training (BST) is an internationally recognised health and safety certification for people working in the wind energy industry. The program covers five key safety topics, including:

Fire awareness
First aid
Manual handling
Sea survival
Working at heights

MSA has partnered with Guardian to offer all modules of the GWO BST programme. At MSA Dover, we offer the GWO Sea Survival course, covering the topics:

Risks related to transfers
Transfer from vessel to dock and vessel to foundation
Emergency and safety procedures on installations, vessels, and WTG
Evacuation from WTG to the water by means of rescue device
Individual and collective survival techniques at sea

The one-day intensive course combines both theory and practical elements to ensure that students are prepared for any eventuality while working offshore.

What Jobs Require GWO Basic Safety Training (BST)?

The GWO BST is required for all workers in the offshore renewables industry, including:

Technicians
Engineers
Project Managers
Management Staff

Currently, the UK offshore renewables industry employs 31,000 workers, with that number expected to rise to 97,000 by 2030. In short, the GWO BST course positions you to take advantage of a growing industry with great job prospects.

MCA Approved Engine Course 1 (AEC1)

The MCA Approved Engine Course 1 (AEC1) is a must for anyone looking to pursue a career as a marine engineer or ship operator aboard a commercial vessel under 24 meters in length.

Not only is the course recognised (and often required) by private captains and charter companies, but it is also a required step toward obtaining the Engineer Officer Certificate of Competency from the MCA.

The AEC1 course covers a variety of topics, including:

Compression ignition engines
Two- and four-stroke operation cycles
Fuel systems
Cooling systems
Electrical systems
Lubrication technologies
Power transmission units

Over the five-day course, students will receive both classroom instruction and hands-on experience with engines, allowing them to put their new knowledge to the test.

What Jobs Require MCA Approved Engine Course 1 (AEC1)?

Although the MCA Approved Engine Course 1 (AEC1) isn’t legally required for work aboard commercial vessels under 24 meters in length, it is typically required (or preferred) by private captains and charter companies.

In addition, the AEC1 course is a necessary step toward obtaining the Engineer Officer Certificate of Competency from the MCA. Obtaining the Engineer Officer Certificate of Competency along with the Basic STCW certification allows holders to serve as chief or first assistant engineer on Merchant Navy vessels of any size.

Which Maritime Course Should I Take Maritime Skills Academy

ECDIS Training (NACOS Platinum)

According to the Manilla Amendment of the STCW Convention, all deck officers of UK-flagged vessels must be certified in the use of Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS). In short, if you want to pursue a career as a deck officer in the UK Merchant Navy, ECDIS training is a must.

The NACOS Platinum course offered at the Maritime Skills Academy is compliant with both the STCW Convention and the latest IMO model course 1.27. The five-day course covers the use ECDIS under a range of voyage conditions, including:

Pilotages
Coastal transits
Ocean passages
Anchorages
Harbours and channels
Dredged areas

What Jobs Require ECDI Training (NACOS Platinum)?

The NACOS Platinum course is a requirement for all deck officers of UK-flagged vessels. In addition, the course is increasingly being requested by shipowners and operators around the world.

Upon successful completion of the NACOS Platinum course, students will receive a certificate of proficiency that is valid for five years.

Launch Your Maritime Career at the Maritime Skills Academy

Unfortunately, there is no single answer to the question, “Which maritime course is best?”

The best maritime course for you will depend on your career goals and the type of vessel you hope to work on.

At the Maritime Skills Academy, we offer a wide range of approved courses that will help you launch your maritime career. To learn more about our courses or to find out which one is right for you, feel free to browse our course catalogue or contact us to discuss your requirements.

What Is GWO Sea Survival Training?

Global Wind Organisation (GWO) Sea Survival Training is one element of a globally recognised certification that provides offshore workers in the wind and renewables’ industry with the skills and knowledge to survive in the event of an offshore accident.

The full GWO certification (called GWO Basic Safety Training) includes five elements:

Sea Survival Training
Fire Awareness Training
Manual Handling Training
First Aid Training
Working at Height Training

In this article, we will be covering everything you need to know about Sea Survival Training—what it covers, whether you or your employees need it, and where to get it.

What Is the Global Wind Organisation (GWO)?

The Global Wind Organisation (GWO) is an independent, non-profit organisation that provides a set of standards for the safe operation of wind turbines around the world.

These standards are internationally recognised and followed by leading wind energy companies, making GWO certification essential for anyone wanting to work in the offshore wind industry.

GWO was founded in 2009 in response to a growing need for better safety standards in the wind industry. Its membership includes some of the biggest names in the business, such as Ørsted, Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, and EDF Renewables.

What Does GWO Sea Survival Training Cover?

GWO Sea Survival Training is a one-day course that covers both theoretical topics and practical elements.

Theoretical topics are covered through classroom-based teaching, while the practical elements are completed in a controlled environment (e.g., a pool or marked practice area at sea).

Course topics include:

An introduction to the risks faced by offshore workers
An overview of the equipment used in sea survival (e.g., life jackets, lifeboats, flares, etc.)
An overview of national and international legislation
How to execute various man overboard techniques
How to swim in cold water and avoid hypothermia
How to deal with waves, currents, and tides
How to safely transfer people and equipment to and from offshore structures

Students who complete the course should be able to demonstrate that they have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities in the event of an offshore accident, as well as the skills needed to carry them out effectively.

How Are GWO Sea Survival Courses Offered?

There isn’t a set structure when it comes to the GWO Sea Survival course — each is organised differently depending on the provider.

Typically, courses are 1-3 days long and use a mix of classroom-based theory teaching and practical training to meet their curriculum requirements.

Our GWO Sea Survival Training course (in partnership with Guardian Training) is a 1-day intensive course that covers all the topics listed above.

The course is delivered by instructors with years of experience in both the maritime industry and emergency response, and includes a mix of classroom-based learning and practical training in a controlled environment.

What Are the Prerequisites for GWO Sea Survival Training?

Anyone who wishes to participate in a GWO Sea Survival Training course must be over the age of 18. There are no other formal prerequisites for GWO Sea Survival Training, although it’s recommended that students have a basic level of fitness and swimming ability.

Who Is GWO Sea Survival Training For?

GWO Sea Survival Training is a mandatory requirement for anyone who works offshore in the wind and renewables industry — this includes technicians, engineers, project managers, etc.

When you complete the course, your certification is added to WINDA — a GWO database that allows employers to verify your certification.

Unlike an STCW certification, which is reviewed five years, employers must ensure that an employees GWO Sea Survival qualification is renewed and updated every two years.

However, it’s not just offshore renewables workers who can benefit from a GWO Sea Survival course. The skills and knowledge covered in the course are relevant to anyone who spends time working at sea (e.g., fishermen, sailors, oil rig workers, etc.).

In short, anyone who works or plans to work in an environment where they could be at risk of falling overboard or being exposed to cold water should consider taking a GWO Sea Survival Training course.

In addition, employers in these industries should consider sponsoring employees for the certification to help ensure their safety and the safety of others.

Where Can I Get GWO Sea Survival Training?

If you’re looking for a GWO Sea Survival course provider, the Maritime Skills Academy offers a 1-day intensive course from our Dover headquarters.

The course is accredited, affordable, and delivered weekly, so you’ll have plenty of dates to choose from.

Bookings can be made through our contact form or via:

TEL: +44 (0) 1795 580 333
WEB: https://www.h-a-r-t.co.uk/training-courses/gwo/

We’re committed to making offshore work safer for workers, and are more than happy to answer any question you have about the course — so don’t hesitate to reach out!

MSA Dover gains GWO Accreditation in partnership with HART Training

The Maritime Skills Academy is proud to have achieved accreditation to operate the sea survival element of the Global Wind Organisation (GWO) training modules at MSA Dover.

Following a comprehensive review by independent auditors of the Dover training facility and of the theory and practical elements of the sea survival course and its submission, we are delighted to have been awarded GWO approval.

Significant investment has been made to the sea survival complex in Dover, which includes working a height safety equipment and the installation of a transfer ladder system and platform which imitates the environment of the wind turbine and a training area to descend from a height.

The partnership between the Maritime Skills Academy (part of the Viking Maritime Group Ltd) and HART Training (a trading division of Checkmate Lifting & Safety Ltd) has seen the two Kent based businesses join forces to create one of the leading wind farm training course packages in the UK and Europe. With the expertise of instructors and state of the art facilities on offer from both businesses, the venture provides wind farm crew and workers the perfect training environments and experience.

The 5 elements of the GWO training include Working at Heights, First Aid, Sea Survival, Fire Awareness and Manual Handling. All 5 parts can be taken as a package or as single elements. The GWO stipulates that people holding these certificates must revalidate the training every 2 years, which comes in the form of refreshers courses.

If further information is required or you are interested in booking onto any GWO training course, full details can be found here or on the HART Website.