STCW Courses Guide for Indian Seafarers 2026
STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) is the international convention that sets minimum training standards. All seafarers — deck, engine, catering — need STCW certificates. Here’s exactly what you need and when.
STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) — Mandatory for All
These 4 courses are required for every seafarer before going to sea:
1. PSSR (Personal Safety and Social Responsibility)
Duration: 1 day
What you learn: Ship safety culture, emergency procedures, personal safety, working relationships onboard
Cost: ₹2,000–4,000
2. EFA (Elementary First Aid)
Duration: 2 days
What you learn: Basic first aid — CPR, bleeding control, fractures, burns
Cost: ₹3,000–5,000
3. FPFF (Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting)
Duration: 3 days
What you learn: Fire classes, extinguisher types, firefighting equipment, fire drills
Cost: ₹5,000–8,000
Note: Involves practical firefighting in controlled burn scenarios
4. PST (Personal Survival Techniques)
Duration: 3 days
What you learn: Abandoning ship, liferaft procedures, immersion suit use, survival at sea
Cost: ₹5,000–8,000
Note: Includes water-based practical (swimming pool or sea)
Total BST cost: ₹15,000–25,000 for all 4 at a DG approved institute
STCW Advanced Courses — By Department
For All Officers: STCW 95 Manila Amendments
AFF (Advanced Fire Fighting)
Required for: All officers
Duration: 4 days
Cost: ₹8,000–15,000
PSCRB (Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats)
Required for: Officers who are Rescue Boat operators or above
Duration: 4 days (includes water exercises)
Cost: ₹8,000–15,000
MFA (Medical First Aid)
Required for: Officer in charge of medical care
Duration: 3 days
Cost: ₹6,000–10,000
Medical Care
Required for: Masters and Chief Officers (senior deck)
Duration: 1 week
Cost: ₹8,000–15,000
For Engine Officers
MEFA (Marine Engineering at the Operational Level) — Part of MEO certificates
High Voltage Awareness — For ships with HV systems
Refrigerant Handling — For reefer ships
For Tanker Officers
Basic Tanker Training (Chemical / Oil / LNG)
Required before sailing on tankers
Duration: 2–3 days
Cost: ₹8,000–15,000 per type
Advanced Tanker Training (for Officers in Charge of Cargo)
Duration: 4–5 days
Cost: ₹15,000–25,000
Refresher / Revalidation — 5-Year Rule
Most STCW certificates are valid for 5 years. You must renew (revalidate) before expiry.
Revalidation options:
- Attend refresher course (1–2 days per certificate)
- Prove sea service in the last 5 years (some certificates accept this)
- Re-take the full course (if more than 5 years lapsed)
Don’t let certificates expire while on leave. Track expiry dates in your CDC and on the INDOS portal.
Where to Do STCW Courses in India
DG Shipping maintains the approved institute list at dgshipping.gov.in.
Major cities with DG approved STCW training:
- Mumbai: Multiple institutes (TS Chanakya, AMSOL, NAVIS)
- Chennai: HIMT, IMU, SCI
- Kolkata: Several MMD-approved centers
- Kochi: CUSAT, MTS
- Vizag: BPCL Institute, GMB
Common Mistakes
- Doing STCW at unapproved institutes: Certificate is invalid. Always verify approval.
- Not keeping physical certificate copies onboard: Digital records not always accepted during Port State Control
- Confusing BST with all STCW requirements: BST is just the basic level. You need more certificates as you promote.
- Late renewal: Let one expire, and some companies will ground you until renewed.
Need a personalised STCW checklist for your rank and department? Ask SailorGPT — it’ll tell you exactly which certificates you need right now and which to plan for next.