STCW Refresher Course – Cape Town Offering
Once you have completed your STCW Course, please note that your STCW Basic Safety certificates are valid for a period of five years. If your certification is approaching expiry or has expired, you will be required to complete refresher training to remain compliant. This can be done through our STCW Refresher Course (please note that this is a separate course – further details are provided below).
STCW Refresher Course – Purpose, Modules and Training Hours
After completing the Basic STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) qualification, the certificate remains valid for five years. To remain legally compliant and eligible to work on commercial vessels or yachts, seafarers must complete an STCW Refresher Course once this validity period has lapsed.
The purpose of the STCW Refresher Course is to ensure that seafarers maintain competence in essential safety and emergency response skills. Critical disciplines such as firefighting and survival techniques are considered perishable skills and require regular practice. Refresher training confirms that crew members remain capable, confident, and effective when responding to real-life emergency situations onboard.
STCW Refresher Course – Modules & Duration
The STCW Refresher Course focuses on the core practical safety elements of the original STCW training.
Modules included:
- Personal Survival Techniques (PST) – Refresher:
Covers abandon-ship procedures, correct use of life-saving equipment, survival craft familiarisation, and practical water-based survival exercises. - Fire Prevention and Firefighting (FPFF) – Refresher:
Reviews fire theory and prevention, with hands-on firefighting drills using approved equipment.
Please note: Elementary First Aid and Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities are not included in the standard STCW Refresher Course.
Duration:
The course is typically completed over two days, with approximately 12–16 hours of training, depending on practical requirements.
Why the STCW Refresher is required:
The refresher ensures ongoing compliance with international maritime regulations and employer requirements. A valid STCW certificate is essential for working onboard commercial vessels and yachts, and refresher training confirms continued competence in emergency response and onboard safety.
View more information about this course and to find out when the next refresher course dates in Cape Town are scheduled on the STCW Course page here.
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