Basic Safety Training
The foundation of safety at sea.
The Basic Safety Training (BST) course is the essential training program for anyone working aboard commercial vessels. It provides the foundational safety skills required for all ship personnel — emergency response, personal safety, firefighting, and survival at sea.
What You’ll Learn
Five modules covering the critical skills every seafarer needs.
Personal Survival Techniques (PST)
Surviving at sea in an emergency — life jackets, life rafts, distress signals, water survival, and life raft deployment.
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF)
Preventing fires aboard vessels and responding effectively — hands-on training with extinguishers, hoses, and drills in a simulated fire environment.
Elementary First Aid (EFA)
Initial medical assistance in emergencies — CPR, wound care, and handling medical emergencies until professional help arrives.
Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR)
Personal safety and effective teamwork at sea — safety protocols, communication, and mental health awareness in a high-risk environment.
Security Awareness Training
Preventing security threats such as piracy or terrorism. Mandatory for certain roles, depending on the vessel and the nature of the work.
Course Facts
What to expect from Basic Safety Training.
Duration and Delivery
Typically 3 to 5 days, delivered through a combination of theoretical instruction and practical training.
Certification
Graduates receive a Basic Safety Training certificate, required for employment on ships under the STCW convention. The certificate remains valid for five years.
Refresher Training
After five years, seafarers complete refresher training to keep their certification current.
Who It’s For
All personnel employed on ships, regardless of job role — the foundational safety program for anyone pursuing a career at sea.
Where It’s Offered
Basic Safety Training is delivered at locations across the Caribbean and the USA.
Caribbean
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Turks and Caicos
- Cayman Islands
- Antigua
- Grenada
- Saba
- Statia
- Anguilla
- Montserrat
- British Virgin Islands (BVI)
- U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI)
- Dominica
- Jamaica
- Bonaire
- St. Maarten
- Curaçao
- Aruba
- Bermuda
USA
- Florida
- Puerto Rico
- Texas
- Alabama
- New Jersey
- Maryland
- Virginia
- Georgia
- California
Register for Basic Safety Training
Email us to register or ask a question — we’ll confirm course dates and the location nearest you.