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IMO Model Courses are non-binding course frameworks published by the International Maritime Organization to help STCW-approved training providers design curricula that meet the mandatory competency standards in STCW Code Part A. They set out course objectives, learning outcomes, lecture content outlines, practical exercise design, assessment criteria, and recommended contact hours — for every major STCW certificate from Personal Survival Techniques (1.13) and Fire Prevention (1.20) through to the Officer of the Watch functions (7.03) and the Electro-Technical Officer curriculum (7.08). Training centres are not legally required to follow an IMO Model Course exactly; what is mandatory is that their approved courses meet the performance standards in the STCW Part A Tables. In practice, flag-state administrations almost universally treat adherence to the relevant IMO Model Course as the standard of proof for approval, making these documents the de facto training industry standard worldwide.
IMO Model Courses are separate from STCW itself — for the convention chapter structure, see the STCW technical reference. For the courses themselves (not the model frameworks), see the certifications database. For providers delivering these courses, see the training-centres directory.
The IMO model framework for STCW Basic Safety Training — Personal Survival Techniques (PST). Covers course objectives, equipment, pool and tank practical content, and assessment criteria for abandoning ship, liferaft boarding, and hypothermia prevention. Training centres use this framework to design their STCW VI/1-1 courses.
Model course for STCW Basic Safety Training — Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF). Sets out practical fire-ground exercises, breathing-apparatus drills, fixed-installation familiarisation, and assessor competency requirements. The live-fire practical requirement is a core element of this framework.
Model course for the PSSR module of BST. Covers ISM Code awareness, onboard emergency procedures, environmental awareness (MARPOL), occupational health and safety, and the importance of teamwork in a multicultural crew environment. Primarily classroom-based with case studies.
Model course for the EFA module of BST. Covers primary survey, CPR/AED, bleeding control, fracture management, burns, drowning, hypothermia, and shock. Practical mannequin-based assessment is recommended. This framework predates modern Wilderness First Aid integration but is being reviewed in the 2026 comprehensive update.
Model course for PSCRB — the officer-level survival endorsement required of all OOWs and above. Covers launching and boarding survival craft under adverse conditions, use of survival equipment, and leadership of a survival craft party. Includes a mandatory sea or pool practical element.
Model course for Advanced Fire Fighting — required of officers designated to lead fire-fighting operations. Covers command structures, ventilation control, breathing-apparatus team management, fixed suppression systems, post-fire investigation, and occupational health of fire teams. Mandatory live-fire or simulator practical.
Model course for Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) — introduced as a Manila Amendment requirement. Covers system components, passage planning on an ECDIS, chart updating, sensor integration (GPS, AIS, depth sounder), alarm management, and failure modes. Generic ECDIS training must be supplemented by type-specific training for the exact make and model fitted on the vessel.
Model course for Medical First Aid — required of officers who may be required to provide medical care on board. Extends EFA competencies to include wound management, trauma care, medication administration from the ship's medicine chest, telemedicine consultation, dental first aid, and childbirth assistance.
Model course for the all-crew ISPS security-awareness certificate (non-designated security duties). Covers the ISPS Code, security threat levels, recognition of suspicious activity, and reporting procedures. Required of all seafarers not holding a security-specific STCW certificate.
Model course for seafarers with designated security duties under the ISPS Code. Covers access control, monitoring restricted areas, control of persons on board, and coordination with the Ship Security Officer (SSO). Required of ratings and officers performing active ISPS security functions.
Model course for shipboard SAR operations — coordinating with MRCC, conducting shipboard searches, assisting a vessel in distress, and the duties of the on-scene coordinator (OSC). Particularly relevant for vessels operating in remote waters or those subject to Polar Code requirements.
The IMO model course for maritime training-centre instructors. Covers adult learning theory, curriculum design, assessment methodology, use of maritime simulators, and feedback techniques. Flag states typically require instructors at STCW-approved training centres to hold this or an equivalent teaching qualification.
The comprehensive model course for deck officer cadet training — covering celestial navigation, radar, ARPA, ECDIS, meteorology, cargo handling, stability, fire prevention, first aid, and bridge watchkeeping. Training centres use this as the backbone of their OOW cadet programmes.
The companion model course to 7.03 for engine-department cadets. Covers propulsion plant operation, auxiliary machinery, electrical systems, maintenance planning, environmental compliance (MARPOL Annex VI), and engine-room watchkeeping procedures.
Model course for the Electro-Technical Officer — introduced by the Manila Amendments 2010. Covers high-voltage systems, automation, control systems, programmable logic controllers, network communications, GMDSS equipment maintenance, and electrical safety in the marine environment.
Approved training centres obtain the IMO Model Course publications from the IMO Publishing Service. They then adapt the framework to their national language, available equipment (simulators, fire grounds, pool facilities, mannequins), and any additional requirements imposed by their flag-state administration. Flag states inspect training centres — typically every five years — to verify that delivered courses continue to meet the STCW Part A standards and, where relevant, remain consistent with the current edition of the IMO Model Course. The training-centres directory lists approved providers by country, including the specific courses each centre is approved to deliver.
For simulation-heavy courses (ARPA, ECDIS, engine-room simulation under 7.04), the IMO Model Course specifies minimum simulator capabilities — generally IMO Resolution A.960(23) or MSC/Circ.1014 for navigation simulators, and Class A/B/C designations for engine-room simulators. A centre must hold the required simulator class to deliver certain STCW endorsements. See the certifications database for the simulator class requirements of individual courses.
Are IMO Model Courses mandatory?
IMO Model Courses are not mandatory — they are non-binding frameworks published by the IMO to help training centres design STCW-compliant courses. The mandatory elements are the competency standards in STCW Code Part A (the Tables). A training centre does not have to follow an IMO Model Course exactly; it must demonstrate to its flag-state administration that its course meets the Part A standards, and using an IMO Model Course is the most straightforward way to do so.
How do I get a copy of an IMO Model Course?
IMO Model Courses are published as individual booklets and are available for purchase from the IMO Publishing Service (www.imo.org/publications). They are not freely available online — flag-state administrations and approved training centres purchase the relevant courses as part of their approval process. The IMO Publications catalogue lists all currently available model courses.
How often are IMO Model Courses updated?
IMO Model Courses are updated periodically to reflect convention amendments. The STCW 2010 Manila Amendments triggered a major update cycle in 2012–2016. The 2024 amendments and 2026 comprehensive review will trigger another update cycle for affected courses — particularly those covering fire prevention, ECDIS, and the new harassment training requirement. Check the IMO Publications catalogue for the edition year.
Can a training centre use a different curriculum structure?
Yes — a training centre may submit its own curriculum for approval by its flag-state administration, provided it can demonstrate that all competency elements in STCW Code Part A Table are covered and that assessment meets the standard. Some large maritime academies develop bespoke curricula endorsed directly by the flag state. The IMO Model Course is a recommended, not mandatory, framework.
Disclaimer. General information only — not legal advice. IMO Model Course editions and flag-state approval requirements change periodically. Always verify that a training centre is currently approved by your flag-state administration for the specific course and edition you need. See the training-centres directory and the country guides for approval verification contacts.