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.
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.
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!
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!
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.”
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
