4-Part STCW Basic Safety Training At MSA Dover – Careers At Sea

The Maritime Skills Academy (MSA) recently welcomed Finley Reeves to complete his 4-Part STCW Basic Safety Training. Finley, who turned 18 during his training week, is currently studying on a Football Scholarship and travelled from Tamworth to our centre in Dover to complete his training as he was exploring options for a potential career at sea.

We followed his week at our state-of-the-art centre and interviewed him after five days of training to see how he’d gotten on.

Finn stood in full fire fighting PPE with a helmet and breathing apparatus with his thumbs up to the camera as part of his 4-part STCW Basic Safety Training

What inspired you to book training courses at the MSA?

I’ve always been in love with football, but sometimes you do have to move on. This course will open up opportunities for me to travel and explore. I think it’s important to look at what else is out there, and when there are opportunities to do things like this, you have to do them.

Which element of the week did you enjoy the most?

My favourite element was the second day of Fire Prevention and Firefighting. I’d never done anything like that before, and although you don’t know what you’re doing, you’ve got people around you who will make sure that you do know what you’re doing.

We were fully fitted in PPE with a breathing apparatus set and oxygen cylinder that we carried on our backs while we worked together as a team to identify a casualty and safely carry them out of the container. That was my favourite day.

The staff and instructors’ help made the experience enjoyable because it didn’t seem like a training course. I looked forward to each day as they were each a proper experience.

Finn is using a fire extinguisher as part of his Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting course which makes up the 4-Part STCW Basic Safety Training Week

Has your experience at the MSA been different from what you expected?

I wasn’t expecting the fire procedures and classes to be as detailed as they were; I thought they [the courses] would be more theoretical than practical—experiencing real situations. All the practices in themselves were very detailed and realistic. Although you’re not at sea and in real firefighting situations, you are putting out actual fires in real-life scenarios.

Which skills have you gained from the 4-Part STCW Basic Safety Training?

I’ve learnt skills for life, such as CPR, what to do if you go overboard, and how to treat a casualty choking or with an injury that needs bandaging.

If I hadn’t completed this course, I wouldn’t have had a clue how to help someone effectively. It’s nice to know that I can try to help [someone] if something were to happen.

CPR performed on a first aid manikin - 4-Part STCW Basic Safety Training

Have the instructors helped make the training engaging and useful?

The mix of [the instructors’] personalities and how some of them used humour or their wisdom from experience to teach the course is engaging, as it’s not just reading course material off the board.

They’re demonstrating and explaining at the same time, going into exact detail about why you need to do this and why that happens. It’s good to say, “You need to do this to keep someone alive”, but the trainers explained why you need to do that to keep someone alive. As a result, you’re more engaged with it [the lessons] because you’re curious and want to learn more.

Can you share a specific moment where you felt you learned something valuable?

On day five (Elementary First Aid), learning CPR and how to use an AED (automated external defibrillator), you can use that in any scenario; it doesn’t just have to be on board.

I now feel more confident about performing CPR instead of just winging it. I would try and help, whereas I probably wouldn’t have before.

What’s been the most challenging part of your training? How did you overcome it?

It’s not to say everything this week was easy, but the workload in the practicals was a challenge. When you’re firefighting, it’s hot, and you’ve got a heavy cylinder on your back, but if I had gone in there without training, it would have been even more challenging.

During the Personal Survival Techniques training course (PST), the physical side was more challenging, but we were taught how to do the exercises in the most effective way.

What role or career path are you hoping to pursue, having completed your training?

I love football, but I’ve got a big interest in this side of the world now and working at sea. I like the idea of working as a deckhand on a superyacht, and I’ve always wanted to travel — with a job like that, it’s a requirement. Although you are working, you’re also travelling the world, so you can’t really complain!

Would you recommend the MSA to others, and if so, why?

I’d definitely recommend the Maritime Skills Academy to others. A career at sea isn’t as well-known an option as it should be. I would never have known about the training needed to work at sea before six months ago, and my friends and family hadn’t considered a career at sea either, as I was explaining to them that I would be completing this course. However, I’d recommend it, and everything has been perfect. There hasn’t been anything that I thought could’ve been better. Everything went really well.

Delegate Finn Reeves stood holding his certificate after completing his STCW Basic Safety Training Week at MSA Dover — *Finn stood proudly with his certificate after completing the STCW Basic Safety Course at MSA Dover*

Maritime Safety Instructor Stuart Warters said of Finn’s experience at the MSA, “[He] took everything in and was always engaged with the courses. Finn demonstrated everything we needed him to do and by the end of the week, he had really improved in confidence.”

If you’ve completed one of our training courses, at either our Dover or Portsmouth facility and would like to leave some feedback or write about your experience, contact our team today at Marketing@vikingmaritime.co.uk

STCW Basic Safety Training – A Week in the Life of MMO’s Paul Watts

A recent delegate at MSA Dover, Marine Officer Paul Watts from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) (an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) completed his STCW Basic Safety Training at our state-of-the-art training centre and kindly detailed his week of training for us to share.

The MMO licenses and regulates marine activities in the seas around England and Wales to ensure their sustainable conduct, which meant that Paul would need to complete his four-part basic safety training to work at sea.

Delegates on the fire training ground smiling on a balcony | MSA Dover STCW Basic Safety Training Week — *Paul pictured third from left with other MSA delegates as part of their STCW Basic Safety Week*

This account is Paul’s first impression of the Maritime Skills Academy, our expert instructors, and our course structure.

Below, he reflects on each of the five days of the course.

Day One – STCW Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting (theory)

After a nice and easy drive to Dover and arriving at the Maritime Skills Academy we were greeted with a coffee and a big smile from Senior Maritime Safety Instructor, Steve Morgan. As a Royal Navy Veteran with 37 years of firefighting experience, Steve was well placed to lead today’s topic of Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting (STCW Reg VI/1 para 1 & sec A-VI/1 para 2.1.2). It was a day dominated by theory; however, the content and presentation style made it very easy to understand, and Steve’s natural humour, peppered with a mixture of stories made for a very enjoyable day!

Day Two – STCW Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting (Practical)

Now this is what I’m talking about — Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting (STCW Reg VI/1 para 1 & sec A-VI/1 para 2.1.2) practical skills! Today, supporting Steve, we were joined by Maritime Safety Instructors Dave Pryer and Joe Bowyer – who between them, are equipped with a wealth of seagoing and firefighting experience.

After being kitted out with our PPE, overalls, fire kit, flash hood, boots, gloves, helmet, and breathing apparatus, it was onto the fire ground for various firefighting practicals with a fire blanket, fire extinguisher, hose and nozzle/branch which was so much fun.

Delegates in fire fighting PPE with their backs to the camera, facing the instructor on the fire training ground | MSA Dover STCW Basic Safety Training Week — *Instructor Steve Morgan preparing Paul (pictured second from left) and other delegates on STCW Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting*

The facilities at the Maritime Skills Academy were excellent. On the fire ground, several ISO containers are cojoined to replicate the space experienced on a vessel. It was here that we entered a smoke-filled environment to conduct search and casualty evacuation drills, and later search and firefighting drills.

I’ve never worn fire kit PPE before, and although initially a little cumbersome, I soon got used to it, and after carrying out the live drills, I wanted to go back for more. Overall, an exhausting and hot day, but hugely enjoyable and oddly satisfying at the same time.

Day 3 – STCW Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities and STCW Proficiency in Security Awareness

Today, it was back in the classroom for Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities (STCW Reg VI/1 para 1 & sec A-VI/1 para 2.1.4) and Proficiency in Security Awareness (STCW Reg VI/1 para 1 & sec A-VI/6 para 4), led by Joe, who spent 26 years at sea as an Engine Room Petty Officer. Whilst it was a full day of theory, it provided a good grounding for understanding the various pieces of maritime legislation, working practices, and general life on board.

Day 4 – STCW Personal Survival Techniques

Another day that I was nervous but super excited about; Personal Survival Techniques (STCW Reg VI/1 para 1 & sec A-VI/1 para 2.1) …aka pool day! Dave led the session in the pool, ably assisted by Joe on the poolside. We practised donning and doffing our lifejackets and then became accustomed to wearing them whilst swimming on our backs. Afterwards, we carried out the recovery tow of a conscious person in the water followed by an unconscious person; this was surprisingly easy!

Paul Watts preparing to jump from a 1m height on the side of the pool with a life jacket on | MSA Dover STCW Basic Safety Training Week — *Paul preparing to jump from the side of the pool during the STCW Personal Survival Techniques Session*

Next up was the jump into the pool from a metre’s height and the optional four-metre jump – replicating the abandon ship command. Finally, we completed drills with the life raft, safely entering and exiting the inflatable and then righting the upturned life raft in the event of it deploying the wrong way up.

The day concluded with an emergency “abandon ship” scenario, combining all the elements we had learnt and practised alongside simulated noise and weather, making the whole thing very realistic!

Delegates creating a ring by linking their arms and floating in the pool, helping each other to enter the life raft | MSA Dover STCW Basic Safety Training Week — Paul and other delegates demonstrate their Personal Survival Techniques entering a life raft

Day 5 – STCW Elementary First Aid

Our final STCW Basic Safety Training session included Elementary First Aid (STCW Reg VI/1 para 1 & sec A-VI/1 para 2.1.3), and our instructor was Maritime Safety Instructor James Dean, a hilarious chap with many stories to tell! Overall, it was a very enjoyable day, during which we learnt the principles of casualty care and demonstrated life-saving techniques such as CPR, using an AED, the Recovery Position, controlling bleeding, managing a choking patient, and dealing with medical emergencies such as heart attacks and strokes.

As the week concluded, I had mixed emotions; I was exhausted but also elated at the new skills I had gained and demonstrated. Despite the exhaustion, I would’ve happily repeated the Fire Prevention, Fire Fighting, and Personal Survival Techniques elements again and again!

Maritime Safety Instructor Joe Bowyer commented on Paul’s time at our training facility, saying, “It was an absolute pleasure to instruct Paul during his STCW Basic Safety Training week, and he was very engaging in each of the sessions. We would welcome him back anytime.”

Seapeak Visits MSA Portsmouth’s World-Class Facilities

Seapeak is a global leader in the international maritime transportation of gas liquids, and it aims to lead the way in the transfer of energy and keep the world in motion.

The Maritime Skills Academy Portsmouth recently hosted these distinguished industry leaders, as they were on the search to identify a provider who could not only deliver world-class training but also utilise and incorporate Seapeak’s own policies and procedures and navigation handbook whilst simultaneously maintaining its purpose, values, and standards.

After this recent evaluation, Seapeak’s Training and Recruitment Manager John Reid expressed his satisfaction with the training centre by writing the following glowing testimonial.

“The Maritime Skills Academy Portsmouth delivers all we requested and much more. From the moment you arrive at the Lakeside North Harbour building, you get the immediate feeling that this is a very professional set-up. From the outset, the message is that you are here to learn in a learning environment. The style of teaching ties in with the ambience and attitude of “let’s learn, and learn at your own pace” by building confidence first, and then moving on to enhancing skills and knowledge.

As well as several state-of-the-art bridge simulators, MSA Portsmouth has Engine Room Simulators (ERM), switchboards, High Voltage Simulator Training, ECDIS Training suites, classrooms, briefing rooms, and incredible recreation space for student breaks. All of which can be integrated for running multi-vessel or multi-departmental exercises or drills.

Another real plus (particularly for Seapeak) was for us to discover that the MSA also have the ability to run Basic and Advanced Polar Code courses.

All in all, the Maritime Skills Academy and their professional staff are running an elite training centre providing world-class training to the maritime industry. Seapeak are delighted to be working with them to ensure that our Officers are receiving a high level of training consistent with our Seapeak Values and Standards.”

On behalf of the entire MSA Team, it was a pleasure to host John and his colleagues, and we are grateful for his kind words and complimentary testimonial.

If you’d like to arrange a visit to our facilities to see how the Maritime Skills Academy can support your maritime training needs, please get in touch below to schedule a visit.

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