STCW Courses for Indian Seafarers — Complete List and Guide 2026
Before you set foot on any commercial vessel, you need specific STCW certifications. Without them, your CDC, your CoC, and your entire employment eligibility are incomplete. This guide lists every mandatory STCW course, who needs it, and how to get it done correctly in India.
What Is STCW?
STCW stands for the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (1978, as amended). It is an international treaty administered by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that sets minimum training standards for all seafarers worldwide.
India is an STCW contracting state and is on the IMO White List — meaning Indian seafarer certificates are recognized internationally.
All STCW courses must be done at DGMA-approved training institutes to be valid for Indian CoC and CDC purposes.
Mandatory STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) — Everyone
These four courses are mandatory for every seafarer before they can join any ship, regardless of rank or department:
| Course | STCW Regulation | Duration | Key Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Survival Techniques (PST) | VI/1-1 | 1 day | Lifeboat, liferaft, survival at sea |
| Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF) | VI/1-2 | 2–3 days | Fire theory, extinguishers, breathing apparatus |
| Elementary First Aid (EFA) | VI/1-3 | 1 day | CPR, wound management, fractures |
| Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR) | VI/1-4 | 1 day | ISM, safety culture, working hours |
IMPORTANT — PSSR 2026 Update:
The amended PSSR course (Course 957) is the current mandatory version. If you completed PSSR before 2024 under the older course syllabus, check with your company whether revalidation is required before your next joining.
These four courses together are often called the BST (Basic Safety Training) package. Most approved institutes offer them as a bundle.
Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSCRB)
| Course | STCW Regulation | Who Needs It |
|---|---|---|
| PSCRB | VI/2 | All watchkeeping officers and ratings who may be in charge of survival craft |
This is required for officers before they can be assigned as a lifeboat commander. It goes beyond PST and involves practical lifeboat operation and rescue boat handling.
Duration: Typically 4–5 days including practical exercises.
Medical Courses
| Course | Regulation | Who Needs It |
|---|---|---|
| Medical First Aid (MFA) | VI/4-1 | Officers designated as responsible for medical care |
| Medical Care (MC) | VI/4-2 | Masters and officers in charge of medical care (typically Chief Officers and Masters) |
These are distinct from Elementary First Aid. MFA/MC is required for watchkeeping officers before CoC eligibility.
Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF)
| Course | Regulation | Who Needs It |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF) | VI/3 | Officers designated as fire section commanders |
Required for all deck and engine officers. AFF goes significantly beyond FPFF and includes breathing apparatus (BA) operations, fire team leadership, and complex fire scenarios.
Navigation-Specific Courses (Deck Officers)
| Course | Who Needs It | When Required |
|---|---|---|
| ARPA/Radar Simulator | All OOW candidates | Before 2nd Mate exam |
| ECDIS (Type-Specific) | All OOW candidates | Before joining ships with ECDIS |
| Bridge Resource Management (BRM) | All deck officers | Before Chief Mate exam |
| Advanced Navigation (ARPA) | Chief Mates and above | Before Chief Mate exam |
| GMDSS (GOC or ROC) | All watchkeeping deck officers | Mandatory for CoC |
ECDIS Note: Type-specific ECDIS training (for the specific make/model onboard) is mandatory under SOLAS. Generic ECDIS awareness is not sufficient. Your company will specify which type-specific course is needed.
GMDSS Note: GOC (General Operator’s Certificate) covers Sea Areas A2, A3, A4. ROC covers A1 only. Most ocean-going vessels require GOC. Examination is conducted jointly by WPC Wing and DGMA at MMD centres.
Engine-Specific Courses
| Course | Who Needs It |
|---|---|
| Engine Room Simulator | Required for MEO exam pathway |
| High Voltage Electrical Safety | Officers on HV vessels (common on larger ships) |
| Electro-Technical Officer (ETO) — STCW III/6 | Required for ETO certification |
Security Courses
| Course | STCW Regulation | Who Needs It |
|---|---|---|
| Security Awareness Training (SAT) | VI/6-1 | ALL seafarers |
| Designated Security Duties (DSD) | VI/6-2 | Crew with specific security duties |
| Ship Security Officer (SSO) | VI/5 | Officers designated as SSO |
SAT is now bundled into most pre-sea training programs. Verify it is included in your course completion certificate.
Passenger Ship Specific (DGMA Circular 12 of 2026)
New requirements effective 2026 for seafarers on international passenger ships:
| Course | Who Needs It |
|---|---|
| Passenger Ship Emergency Familiarization | ALL crew on international passenger ships |
| Crowd Management Training | Crew with mustering/evacuation duties |
| Crisis Management and Human Behaviour | Masters, Chief Officers, and designated officers |
| Ro-Ro Passenger Ship Training | Crew on Ro-Ro passenger vessels with specific duties |
Where to Do STCW Courses in India
Only DGMA-approved MTIs for the specific course. Verify at dgma.gov.in before enrolling.
Major hubs with multiple approved institutes:
- Mumbai / Navi Mumbai: Largest concentration of approved institutes
- Chennai: Multiple approved centers
- Kolkata: Key centers for Eastern India candidates
- Kochi: Southern India hub
- Delhi / NCR: Growing number of approved centers
Before paying any fee: Verify the specific institute is approved for the specific course at dgma.gov.in.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I do all BST courses at the same institute?
A: Usually yes. Most DG-approved institutes offer the full BST package (PST + FPFF + EFA + PSSR) together. Confirm before enrolling.
Q: Are online STCW courses valid for Indian seafarers?
A: Only partially. Some theoretical components may have online options, but practical components (lifeboat, fire fighting, first aid) must be done physically at an approved institute. Pure online STCW certificates are NOT valid for DGMA purposes.
Q: My STCW certificates are expiring. How do I revalidate?
A: Revalidation requires completing a refresher course at an approved MTI or demonstrating approved sea service within the validity period. The specific requirement depends on the certificate type. Check with the MTI and your company.
Q: Which courses should I do first if I’m a fresh aspirant?
A: Complete the BST package (PST, FPFF, EFA, PSSR) first. Then PSCRB, MFA, AFF. These are required before your CoC can be issued. ECDIS and GMDSS are typically done during or after your pre-sea training program.
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