Course details

STCW Personal Survival Techniques
NZQF Level 3

About the course

Click here for full STCW Basic Training

Course Aim

This course aims to provide students with competence in personal survival techniques so that they will be able to survive at sea in the event of ship abandonment.  Successful students achieve an STCW Competence in Personal Survival Techniques Certificate, and students will be deemed to be competent in accordance with the amended provisions of Regulation VI/I (Section A-VI/1-1) of the International convention on Standards of Training Certification and Watch-keeping for Seafarers (STCW) 1978.

Course Content

  • Topic 1:  Life Saving and Safety Equipment
  • Topic 2:  Survival Techniques
  • Topic 3:  Emergency Accidents and Incidents
  • Topic 4:  International Distress Signals
  • Topic 5:  Drills and hazard management
  • Topic 6:  Enclosed spaces

Please note your STCW certificate may take up to two weeks to be issued to you upon successful completion of the course.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of muster and emergency stations, muster lists, signals, and sea survival equipment. Play a role in safety drills.
  • Don a lifejacket, don and use an immersion suit, safely jump from a height into the water, swim while wearing a lifejacket, right an inverted liferaft while wearing a lifejacket, board a survival craft while wearing a lifejacket.
  • Launch, right, board and handle a life-raft. Take initial actions on boarding a liferaft to increase chances of survival. Stream a drogue or sea anchor and operate survival craft equipment.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the equipment contained in a life-raft and preparations for rescue.
  • Operate location devices including a radiotelephone in a simulated emergency.
  • Apply basic survival techniques- demonstrating an understanding of the main dangers to survivors. Describe the symptoms and treatment of hypothermia
Entry requirements

A passport photo must be emailed or provided to the Maritime Administrator prior to the commencement of this course.

What to bring

We will provide overalls for you to wear on this course. You will be taking part in activities in a swimming pool, so please bring a swimming costume to wear under your overalls.

Entry requirements

A passport photo must be emailed or provided to the Maritime Administrator prior to the commencement of this course.

About the provider

Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) is a Government Institute with campuses in Nelson and Marlborough. 

NMIT is a New Zealand Qualifications Authority Category 1 (the highest) Institute. Our programmes are designed alongside industry to create work-ready graduates that meet local and international job market needs. 

You'll find NMIT tutors care a lot about student success, and classes are small enough that they know you by name.

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