Mandatory STCW training covering personal survival, fire prevention, first aid, and personal safety for all seafarers.
Quick facts
Regulation
STCW Regulation VI/1
In practice
In port or at anchor, a rating who lacks a valid BST certificate is not legally permitted to serve aboard a ship operating internationally. Port state control officers check STCW certificates during inspections, and an expired or missing BST record can result in the individual being signed off and the company facing deficiencies. Onboard, the BST framework shapes the content of muster drills, so every crew member can respond to alarms with baseline competence.
Regulatory detail & full definition
Basic Safety Training is the mandatory package of four competencies required of all seafarers under STCW Regulation VI/1 before they join any ship. The components are personal survival techniques, fire prevention and fire fighting, elementary first aid, and personal safety and social responsibilities. Certificates must be renewed every five years to maintain validity.
In port or at anchor, a rating who lacks a valid BST certificate is not legally permitted to serve aboard a ship operating internationally. Port state control officers check STCW certificates during inspections, and an expired or missing BST record can result in the individual being signed off and the company facing deficiencies. Onboard, the BST framework shapes the content of muster drills, so every crew member can respond to alarms with baseline competence.
The renewal process typically involves a refresher course ashore at an approved maritime training centre. Seafarers working in specialised sectors — tankers, passenger ships, ro-ro vessels — must also hold additional certificates, but BST remains the common foundation. Shipowners have a duty under MLC 2006 to ensure that all crew hold valid and appropriate certification before deployment.