Course overview

A practical, competency-focused introductory course for prospective deck ratings.

Prepares trainees with fundamental seamanship skills, shipboard routine, safety and emergency response, and basic navigational awareness required to serve effectively on merchant ships. Designed to meet common industry and national maritime authority requirements and to dovetail with STCW basic safety training. Target audience New recruits and prospective deck ratings (ordinary seaman / able seaman candidates), those returning to sea after a break, or shore staff moving to deck duties. Duration Typical delivery: 2 weeks (80 hours). Can be adapted as a 1-week intensive (40–48 hours) for candidates who already hold STCW Basic Safety Training modules. Prerequisites • Minimum age as per national regulations (commonly 16–18+) • Basic literacy in the language of instruction and basic English for sea communication • Valid medical fitness certificate for seafarers (where required) • Basic numeracy Course objectives By the end of the course, trainees will: • Demonstrate safe working practices and follow shipboard routines and orders • Perform basic seamanship tasks including ropework, mooring, anchoring, and small boat operations under supervision • Understand the principles of watchkeeping and bridge/team communication • Recognize ship layout, stability basics and common cargo operations • Respond effectively to onboard emergencies (fire, flooding, person overboard) and apply basic first aid and survival techniques • Understand pollution prevention and environmental responsibilities Learning outcomes (knowledge, skills, attitudes) Knowledge • Ship terminology, parts of a ship, and basic ship construction • Principles of mooring, anchoring, and cargo handling • Basic navigation terms, buoyage, and watchkeeping responsibilities • Safety regulations, pollution prevention, and personal responsibilities Skills • Knots, splices, hitches and proper line handling • Mooring and unmooring procedures, basic use of deck machinery (winches, windlass) • Basic watchkeeping routines and simple log entries • Firefighting techniques, use of breathing apparatus and fire-fighting equipment • Life-saving appliance use, survival craft launch and maintenance • Elementary first aid and casualty care Attitudes • Teamwork, discipline, situational awareness, and a safety-first mindset • Respect for environmental protection rules and shipboard chain of command Course modules and suggested hours 1. Introduction, shipboard routine and seamanship basics (10 hours) • Ship terminology, deck layout, duties of deck ratings, communication and watchkeeping principles • Shipboard routine, logs, reporting, and teamwork 1. Ropework and rigging (8 hours) • Knots, bends, hitches, splices, whipping, handling and stowage of lines 1. Mooring, anchoring and deck operations (10 hours) • Mooring procedures, berthing/unberthing basics, anchoring fundamentals, use of deck machinery, gangway safety 1. Cargo handling basics (6 hours) • Types of cargo, safe handling practices, securing cargo, basic cargo watch duties 1. Basic navigation awareness and collision avoidance (6 hours) • Buoyage, lights and shapes, look-out duties, simple use of charts and compass basics 1. Ship construction, stability and safety of ship (6 hours) • Watertight integrity, common compartments, basic stability concepts relevant to deck duties 1. Personal safety, social responsibilities and environmental protection (6 hours) • Personal protective equipment, fatigue management, anti-pollution measures, MARPOL basics 1. Emergency response: firefighting and fire prevention (10 hours) • Fire classes, extinguishers, line and branch handling, breathing apparatus, fire party duties, practical firefighting drills 1. Personal survival techniques and lifeboat drills (8 hours) • Lifejackets, immersion suits, survival craft launching, muster and abandon ship procedures, sea survival basics 1. Elementary first aid and medical care (6 hours) • Primary survey, CPR, wound care, hypothermia, reporting and documentation Assessment and certification • Continuous practical assessments during drills and exercises • Written/oral knowledge tests at module completion • Practical demonstrations: knots, mooring, firefighting, survival craft launch, first aid • On successful completion, trainees receive a Basic Seaman (Deck) Course Certificate issued by the training provider; where STCW modules are included, certification will comply with relevant STCW/basic safety training requirements and national maritime authority standards. Training methods and resources • Classroom theory with multimedia presentations • Practical hands-on workshops on deck and in training simulators • Realistic emergency drills and live-fire training in controlled environment • Small group work, role play for bridge/team communication • Course handouts, checklists and logbook entries for practice Facilities and equipment required • Classroom with AV equipment • Practical training deck/area or simulators • Rope and rigging equipment, mooring winch, deck hardware • Firefighting trainer, breathing apparatus, lifejackets, immersion suits • Lifeboat/survival craft or simulator, first aid training kit • Access to training vessel or realistic mock-ups for mooring/anchoring practice (preferred) Recommended prior and follow-up courses • Recommended prior: Basic English for Seafarers (if needed), health & medical fitness • Recommended follow-up: Advanced seamanship, Able Seafarer Deck certification, Bridge Resource Management, advanced firefighting, and specialized cargo handling courses Customization and compliance The course can be tailored in duration and content to meet specific company procedures, ship types (e.g., tankers, container ships), or national authority/STCW requirements. I can produce a version aligned to your country’s maritime authority or include STCW module