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Continued competence—additional mandatory sea survival and fire fighting requirements—MT10

Process for registered training organisations delivering continued competence STCW courses in sea survival and fire fighting.

This course enables seafarers to demonstrate continued competence ashore in sea survival and firefighting with sea service in the preceding 5 years. 

This procedure sets out AMSA’s requirements for Registered training organisations delivering appropriate STCW courses which enable seafarers with sea service in the preceding 5 years to demonstrate continued competence ashore in sea survival and fire fighting.

Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW)

The International Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978, as amended (STCW) requires serving seafarers to demonstrate continued competence every five years in fire fighting and sea survival  to maintain the validity of their certificate. Failure to do this means that the seafarer certificate of competency becomes invalid. The relevant Sections in the STCW Code permit AMSA to accept on-board training and experience for maintaining some of the competencies as listed in the relevant Table on the following pages.

It is the responsibility of the seafarer to ensure that the continued competence training remains valid while serving on a vessel.

AMSA Policy

To demonstrate the necessary on-board training and experience, the seafarer is required to obtain a letter from their employer stating that they have participated in training on- board, including mandatory fire and abandon ship drills.
In addition, some of the competencies cannot be completed through onboard training and must be completed ashore at an AMSA approved college. This is in addition to the mandatory qualifying sea service revalidation requirements for Masters and Deck and Engineer officers.

While the STCW Convention and Code do not specify any qualifying sea service to revalidate a Certificate of proficiency as Rating (Deck or Engine) or Certificate of safety training, the following are the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) requirements which vary for different certificates issued by AMSA. They can be categorised into 3 groups:

  1. Certificates of competency (Master, Deck and Engineer officers) and Certificates of proficiency as Chief integrated rating
  2. Certificates of proficiency as rating (Deck and Engine) excluding Chief integrated rating
  3. Certificates of safety training

Masters, and Deck and Engineer Officers who have not  met revalidation qualifying sea service requirements in the preceding 5 years will have to meet AMSA approved full revalidation course requirements.

To revalidate a certificate from 1 January 2014 all seafarers are required to satisfy the Security awareness training requirements specified in STCW Regulation VI/6 and STCW Code Section A-VI/6 paragraph 4.

The tables on the following pages set out the competence levels and methods for demonstrating competence in each of the above three groups.

Certificate of safety training, including marine cook, navigation watch rating and engine watch rating

1(a) Fire fighting—extract from STCW Code Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting—table A-VI/1-2

AMSA anticipates that the nominal hours for the following shore based component of the practical fire fighting training will take at least 5 hours to complete.

Competence

Methods for demonstrating competence

Minimise the risk of fire and maintain a state of readiness to respond to emergency situations involving fire

Assessment of evidence obtained from approved instruction or attendance at an approved course

Fight and extinguish fires

Assessment of evidence obtained from approved instruction or during attendance at an approved course, including practical demonstration in spaces which provide truly realistic conditions—for example simulated shipboard conditions—and, whenever possible and practical, in darkness, of the ability to:

  1. use various types of portable fire extinguishers
  2. use of self-contained breathing apparatus (refresher)
  3. extinguish small fires—for example electrical fires, oil fires, propane fires
  4. extinguish extensive fires with water, using jet and spray nozzles
  5. extinguish fires with foam, powder or any other suitable chemical agent
  6. enter and pass through, with lifeline but without breathing apparatus, a compartment into which high- expansion foam has been injected
  7. fight fire in smoke-filled enclosed spaces wearing self-contained breathing apparatus
  8. extinguish fire with water fog or any other suitable fire-fighting agent in an accommodation room or simulated engine-room with fire and heavy smoke
  9. extinguish oil fire with fog applicator and spray nozzles, dry chemical powder or foam applicators
  10. effect a rescue in a smoke-filled space wearing breathing apparatus.

1(b) Sea survival—extract from STCW Code Personal Survival Techniques—table A-VI/1-1

AMSA anticipates that the nominal hours for the following shore based component of the practical sea survival training will take at least 3 hours to complete.

Competence

Methods for demonstrating competence

Survive at sea in the event of ship abandonment

Assessment of evidence obtained from approved instruction or during attendance at an approved course or approved in-service experience and examination, including practical demonstration of competence to:

  1. don a lifejacket
  2. don and use an immersion suit
  3. safely jump from a height into the water
  4. right an inverted liferaft while wearing a lifejacket
  5. swim while wearing a lifejacket
  6. keep afloat without a lifejacket
  7. board a survival craft from the ship and water while wearing a lifejacket
  8. take initial actions on boarding survival craft to enhance chance of survival
  9. operate survival craft equipment
  10. operate location devices, including radio equipment.

Certificate of proficiency of rating (Deck and Engine), excluding chief integrated rating

2(a) Fire fighting—extract from STCW Code Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting—table A-VI/1-2

AMSA anticipates that the nominal hours for the following shore based component of the practical fire fighting training will take at least 5 hours to complete.

Competence

Methods for demonstrating competence

Minimise the risk of fire and maintain a state of readiness to respond to emergency situations involving fire

Assessment of evidence obtained from approved instruction or attendance at an approved course.

Fight and extinguish fires

Assessment of evidence obtained from approved instruction or during attendance at an approved course, including practical demonstration in spaces which provide truly realistic conditions—for example simulated shipboard conditions—and, whenever possible and practical, in darkness, of the ability to:

  1. use various types of portable fire extinguishers
  2. use of self-contained breathing apparatus (refresher)
  3. extinguish small fires—like electrical fires, oil fires, propane fires
  4. extinguish extensive fires with water, using jet and spray nozzles
  5. extinguish fires with foam, powder or any other suitable chemical agent
  6. enter and pass through, with lifeline but without breathing apparatus, a compartment into which high- expansion foam has been injected
  7. fight fire in smoke-filled enclosed spaces wearing self-contained breathing apparatus
  8. extinguish fire with water fog or any other suitable fire-fighting agent in an accommodation room or simulated engine-room with fire and heavy smoke
  9. extinguish oil fire with fog applicator and spray nozzles, dry chemical powder or foam applicators
  10. effect a rescue in a smoke-filled space wearing breathing apparatus.

2(b) Sea survival - (Extract From STCW Code Personal Survival Techniques— table A-VI/1-1 and Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats Table A-VI/2-1)

AMSA anticipates that the nominal hours for the following two shore based components of the practical sea survival training (Tables A-VI/1-1 and A-VI/2-1) will take at least 6 hours to complete. Both components must be included in the Sea Survival course.

Personal Survival Techniques – Table A-Vl/1-1

Competence

Methods for demonstrating competence

Survive at sea in the event of ship abandonment

Assessment of evidence obtained from approved instruction or during attendance at an approved course or approved in-service experience and examination, including practical demonstration of competence to :

  1. don a lifejacket
  2. don and use an immersion suit
  3. safely jump from a height into the water
  4. right an inverted liferaft while wearing a lifejacket
  5. swim while wearing a lifejacket
  6. keep afloat without a lifejacket
  7. board a survival craft from the ship and water while wearing a lifejacket
  8. take initial actions on boarding survival craft to enhance chance of survival
  9. operate survival craft equipment
  10. operate location devices, including radio equipment.

Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats—table A-VI/2-1

Competence

Methods for demonstrating competence

Take charge of a survival craft or rescue boat during and after launch

Assessment of evidence obtained from practical demonstration of ability to:

  1. operate off-load and on-load release devices for survival craft**
  2. proper resetting of both off-load and on-load
  3. release devices for survival craft.**

Use locating devices including communication and signalling apparatus and pyrotechnics

Assessment of evidence obtained from practical demonstration of ability to:

  1. use signalling equipment, including pyrotechnics.

** Note: The practical training in off-load and on-load release devices must use an AMSA approved off-load and on-load release simulator.

  1. Certificate of competency (Master, Deck and Engineer officers) and certificate of proficiency as chief integrated rating

3(a) Fire fighting— (Extract from STCW Code Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting— table A-VI/1-2 and Advanced Fire Fighting Table A-VI/3)

AMSA anticipates that the nominal hours for the following two shore based component of the practical and theoretical fire fighting training (Tables A-VI/1-2 and VI/3) will take at least 8 hours to complete. Both components must be included in the Firefighting course.

Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting—Table A-Vl/1-2

Competence

Methods for demonstrating competence

Minimise the risk of fire and maintain a state of readiness to respond to emergency situations involving fire

Assessment of evidence obtained from approved instruction OR attendance at an approved course.

Fight and extinguish fires

Assessment of evidence obtained from approved instruction OR during attendance at an approved course, including practical demonstration in spaces which provide truly realistic conditions (e.g. simulated shipboard conditions) and, whenever possible and practical, in darkness, of the ability to:

  1. use various types of portable fire extinguishers
  2. use of self-contained breathing apparatus (refresher)
  3. extinguish small fires, e.g. electrical fires, oil fires, propane fires
  4. extinguish extensive fires with water, using jet and spray nozzles
  5. extinguish fires with foam, powder or any other suitable chemical agent
  6. enter and pass through, with lifeline but without breathing apparatus, a compartment into which high- expansion foam has been injected
  7. fight fire in smoke-filled enclosed spaces wearing self-contained breathing apparatus
  8. extinguish fire with water fog or any other suitable fire-fighting agent in an accommodation room or simulated engine-room with fire and heavy smoke
  9. extinguish oil fire with fog applicator and spray nozzles, dry chemical powder or foam applicators
  10. effect a rescue in a smoke-filled space wearing breathing apparatus.

Advanced Fire Fighting—table A-VI/3

Competence

Knowledge, understanding and proficiency

Control fire-fighting operations aboard ships

Use of water for fire extinguishing, the effects on ship stability, precautions and corrective procedures.
Fire fighting involving dangerous goods.

Organise and train fire parties

Preparation of contingency plans.
Composition and allocation of personnel to fire parties.
Strategies and tactics for control of fires in various parts of the ship.

Inspect and service fire-detection and fire-extinguishing systems and equipment

Fire detection systems; fixed fire-extinguishing systems; portable and mobile fire- extinguishing equipment, including appliances, pumps and rescue, salvage, life-support.
Requirements for statutory and classification surveys.

Investigate and compile reports on incidents involving fire

Assessment of cause of incidents involving fire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3(b) Sea survival —extract from STCW Code Personal Survival Techniques - table A-VI/1-1 and Proficiency in Survival Craft & Rescue Boats Table A-VI/2-1)

We anticipate that the nominal hours for the following two shore based component of the practical sea survival training (Tables A-VI/1-1 and A-VI/2-1) will take at least 6 hours to complete. Both components must be included in the Sea Survival Course.

Personal Survival Techniques—table A-Vl/1-1

Competence

Methods for demonstrating competence

Survive at sea in the event of ship abandonment

Assessment of evidence obtained from approved instruction or during attendance at an approved course or approved in-service experience and examination, including practical demonstration of competence to:

  1. don a lifejacket
  2. don and use an immersion suit
  3. safely jump from a height into the water
  4. right an inverted liferaft while wearing a lifejacket
  5. swim while wearing a lifejacket
  6. keep afloat without a lifejacket
  7. board a survival craft from the ship and water while wearing a lifejacket
  8. take initial actions on boarding survival craft to enhance chance of survival
  9. operate survival craft equipment
  10. operate location devices, including radio equipment.

Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats—table A-VI/2-1

Competence

Methods for demonstrating competence

Take charge of a survival craft or rescue boat during and after launch

Assessment of evidence obtained from practical demonstration of ability to:

  1. operate off-load and on-load release devices for survival craft
  2. proper resetting of both off-load and on-load release devices for survival craft—must use an off-load and on-load release simulator approved by us
  3. Release devices for survival craft—must use an off-load and on-load release simulator approved by us

Use locating devices including communication and signalling apparatus and pyrotechnics

Assessment of evidence obtained from practical demonstration of ability to:
1. use signalling equipment, including pyrotechnics.

The practical training in off-load and on-load release devices must use an AMSA approved off-load and on-load release simulator.

Other non-mandatory continued competence training fast rescue boats—extract from STCW Code Fast Rescue Boats—table A-VI/2-2

AMSA anticipates that the nominal hours for the following shore based component of the practical fast rescue boat training will take at least 6 hours to complete.

Competence

Methods for demonstrating competence

Understand the construction, maintenance, repair and outfitting of fast rescue boats

Assessment of evidence obtained from practical instruction

Take charge of the launching equipment and appliance as commonly fitted, during launching and recovery

Assessment of evidence obtained from practical demonstration of ability to control safe launching and recovery of a fast rescue boat, with equipment as fitted

Take charge of a fast rescue boat as commonly fitted, during launching and recovery

Assessment of evidence obtained from practical demonstration of ability to conduct safe launching and recovery of a fast rescue boat, with equipment as fitted

Take charge of a fast rescue boat after launching

Assessment of evidence obtained from practical demonstration of ability to:

  1. right a capsized fast rescue boat—this may be demonstrated by documentation or video
  2. swim in special equipment
  3. recover a casualty from the water and transfer a casualty to a rescue helicopter or to a ship or to a place of safety

Operate a Fast Rescue Boat Engine

Assessment of evidence obtained from practical demonstration of ability to start and operate a fast rescue boat engine
Last updated: 9 November 2020

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