Section A-VI/1

Mandatory minimum requirements for familiarization and basic safety training and
instruction for all seafarers

Familiarization training

1 Before being assigned to shipboard duties, all persons employed or engaged on a

seagoing ship other than passengers, shall receive approved familiarization training in
personal survival techniques or receive sufficient information and instruction, taking
account of the guidance given in part B, to be able to:

.1 communicate with other persons on board on elementary safety matters, understand

safety information symbols, signs, and alarm signals;

.2 know what to do if:

.2.1 a person falls overboard,

.2.2 fire or smoke is detected, or

.2.3 the fire or abandon ship alarm is sounded;

.3 identify muster and embarkation stations and emergency escape routes;

.4 locate and don life jackets;

.5 raise the alarm and have basic knowledge of the use of portable fire extinguishers;

.6 take immediate action upon encountering an accident or other medical emergency

before seeking further medical assistance on board; and

.7 close and open the fire weather tight and watertight doors fitted in the particular ship
other than those for hull openings.

Basic training

2 Seafarers employed or engaged in any capacity on board ship on the business of that
ship as part of the ship's complement with designated safety or pollution prevention
duties in the operation of the ship shall, before being assigned to any shipboard duties:

.1 receive appropriate approved basic training or instruction in:

.1.1 personal survival techniques as set out in table A-VI/1-1,

.1.2 fire prevention and fire-fighting as set out in table A-VI/1-2,

.1.3 elementary first-aid as set out in table A-VI/1-3, and

.1.4 personal safety and social responsibilities as set out in table A-VI/1-4.

.2 be required to provide evidence of having achieved the required standard of

competence to undertake the tasks, duties and responsibilities listed in column 1 of
tables A-VI/1-1, A-VI/1-2, A-VI/1-3 and A-VI/1-4 within the previous five years
through:

.2.1 demonstration of competence, in accordance with the methods and the criteria for
evaluating competence tabulated in columns 3 and 4 of those tables; and

.2.2 examination or continuous assessment as part of an approved training programme

in the subjects listed in column 2 of those tables.

3 The Administration may, in respect of ships other than passenger ships of more than
500 gross tonnage engaged on international voyages and tankers, if it considers that a
ship's size and the length or character of its voyage are such as to render the application
of the full requirements of this section unreasonable or impracticable, exempt to that
extent the seafarers on such a ship or class of ships from some of the requirements,
bearing in mind the safety of people on board, the ship and property and the protection
of the marine environment.
Table A-VI/1-1

Specification of minimum standard of competence in personal survival techniques

COMPETENCE KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING METHODS FOR CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING

AND PROFICIENCY DEMONSTRATING COMPETENCE
COMPETENCE
Survive at sea in the Types of emergency situations Assessment of evidence obtained Action taken on identifying
event of ship which may occur, such as collision, from approved instruction or muster signals is appropriate
abandonment fire, foundering during attendance at an approved to the indicated emergency
course or approved in-service and complies with established
experience and examination, procedures
Types of life-saving appliances
including practical demonstration
normally carried on ships
of competence to:
The timing and sequence of
individual actions are
Equipment in survival craft
.1 don a life-jacket appropriate to the prevailing
circumstance and conditions
Location of personal life-saving and minimize potential dangers
.2 don and use an immersion suit
appliances and threats to survival
 Principles concerning survival .3 safely jump from a height into Method of boarding survival
including: the water craft is appropriate and avoids
dangers to other survivors
.1 value of training and drills .4 right an inverted liferaft while
wearing a life-jacket Initial actions after leaving the
ship and procedures and
.2 personal protective clothing and
actions in water minimize
equipment .5 swim while wearing a life-jacket
threats to survival

.3 need to be ready for any .6 keep afloat without a life-jacket

emergency
.7 board a survival craft from ship
.4 actions to be taken when called and water while wearing a life-
to survival craft stations jacket

.5 actions to be taken when

required to abandon ship

.6 actions to be taken when in the

water

.7 actions to be taken when aboard

a survival craft

.8 main dangers to survivors

Survive at sea in the .8 take initial actions on boarding
event of ship survival craft to enhance chance of
abandonment survival
(continued)
.9 stream a drogue or sea anchor

.10 operate survival craft

equipment

.11 operate location devices,

including radio equipment

Table A-VI/1-2

Specification of minimum standard of competence in fire prevention and fire-fighting

COMPETENCE KNOWLEDGE, METHODS FOR DEMONSTRATING CRITERIA FOR

UNDERSTANDING COMPETENCE EVALUATING
AND PROFICIENCY COMPETENCE
Minimize the risk of fire Shipboard fire-fighting Assessment of evidence obtained from Initial actions on
and maintain a state of organization approved instruction or attendance at an becoming aware of an
readiness to respond to approved course emergency conform with
emergency situations accepted practices and
Location of fire-fighting
involving fire procedures
appliances and
emergency escape
routes Action taken on
identifying muster signals
is appropriate to the
The elements of fire and
indicated emergency and
explosion (the fire
complies with established
triangle)
procedures

Types and sources of

ignition
 Flammable materials,
fire hazards and spread
of fire

The need for constant

vigilance

Actions to be taken on
board ship

Fire and smoke

detection and automatic
alarm systems

Classification of fire and

applicable extinguishing
agents
COMPETENCE KNOWLEDGE, METHODS FOR DEMONSTRATING CRITERIA FOR
UNDERSTANDING COMPETENCE EVALUATING
AND PROFICIENCY COMPETENCE
Fight and extinguish Fire-fighting equipment Assessment of evidence obtained from Clothing and equipment
fires and its location on- approved instruction or during attendance at are appropriate to the
board an approved course including practical nature of the fire-fighting
demonstration in spaces which provide truly operations
realistic training conditions (e.g. simulated
Instruction in:
shipboard conditions) and, whenever possible
The timing and sequence
and practical, in darkness, of the ability to:
of individual actions are
.1 fixed installations
appropriate to the
.1 use various types of portable fire prevailing circumstances
.2 firefighter's outfits extinguishers and conditions

.3 personal equipment .2 use self-contained breathing apparatus Extinguishment of fire is

achieved using
appropriate procedures,
.4 fire-fighting .3 extinguish smaller fires, e.g. electrical
techniques and fire-
appliances and fires, oil fires, propane fires
fighting agents
equipment
.4 extinguish extensive fires with water using
Breathing apparatus
.5 fire-fighting methods jet and spray nozzles
procedures and
techniques comply with
.6 fire-fighting agents .5 extinguish fires with foam, powder or any accepted practices and
other suitable chemical agent procedures

.7 fire-fighting
procedures .6 enter and pass through with lifeline but
without breathing apparatus a compartment
into which high expansion foam has been
.8 use of breathing injected
apparatus for fighting
fires and effecting
rescues
Fight and extinguish .7 fight fire in smoke-filled enclosed spaces
fires (continued) wearing self-contained breathing apparatus

.8 extinguish fire with water fog, or any other

suitable fire-fighting agent in an
accommodation room or simulated engine-
room with fire and heavy smoke

.9 extinguish oil fire with fog applicator and

spray nozzles, dry chemical powder or foam
applicators

.10 effect a rescue in a smoke-filled space

wearing breathing apparatus
Table A-VI/1-3

Specification of minimum standard of competence in elementary first aid

COMPETENCE KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING AND METHODS FOR CRITERIA FOR

PROFICIENCY DEMONSTRATING EVALUATING COMPETENCE
COMPETENCE
Take immediate Assessment of needs of casualties and Assessment of evidence The manner and timing of
action upon threats to own safety obtained from approved raising the alarm is
encountering an instruction or during appropriate to the
accident or other attendance at an circumstances of the accident
Appreciation of body structure and functions
medical emergency approved course or medical emergency

Understanding of immediate measures to be

The identification of probable
taken in cases of emergency, including the
cause, nature and extent of
ability to:
injuries is prompt and
complete and the priority and
.1 position casualty sequence of actions is
proportional to any potential
threat to life
.2 apply resuscitation techniques

Risk of further harm to self

.3 control bleeding and casualty is minimized at
all times
.4 apply appropriate measures of basic shock
management

.5 apply appropriate measures in event of

burns and scalds, including accidents caused
by electric current

.6 rescue and transport a casualty

.7 improvise bandages and use materials in

emergency kit

Table A-VI/1-4

Specification of minimum standard of competence in personal safety and social responsibilities

COMPETENCE KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING METHODS FOR CRITERIA FOR

AND PROFICIENCY DEMONSTRATING EVALUATING
COMPETENCE COMPETENCE
Comply with Types of emergency which may Assessment of evidence Initial action on becoming
emergency occur, such as collision, fire, obtained from approved aware of an emergency
procedures foundering instruction or during conforms to established
attendance at an approved emergency response
course procedures
Knowledge of shipboard contingency
plans for response to emergencies
Information given on raising
alarm is prompt, accurate,
Emergency signals and specific
complete and clear
duties allocated to crew members in
the muster list; muster stations;
correct use of personal safety
equipment

Action to take on discovering

potential emergency, including fire,
 collision, foundering and ingress of
water into the ship

Action to take on hearing

emergency alarm signals

Value of training and drills

Knowledge of escape routes and

internal communication and alarm
systems
Take precautions to Effects of operational or accidental Assessment of evidence Organizational procedures
prevent pollution of pollution of the marine environment obtained from approved designed to safeguard the
the marine instruction or during marine environment are
environment attendance at an approved observed at all times
Basic environmental protection
course
procedures
COMPETENCE KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING METHODS FOR CRITERIA FOR
AND PROFICIENCY DEMONSTRATING EVALUATING
COMPETENCE COMPETENCE
Observe safe working Importance of adhering to safe Assessment of evidence Safe working practices are
practices working practices at all times obtained from approved observed and appropriate
instruction or during safety and protective
attendance at an approved equipment is correctly used
Safety and protective devices
course at all times
available to protect against potential
hazards aboard ship

Precautions to be taken prior to

entering enclosed spaces

Familiarization with international

measures concerning accident
prevention and occupational health*
Understand orders Ability to understand orders and to Assessment of evidence Communications are clear
and be understood in communicate with others in relation obtained from approved and effective at all times
relation to shipboard to shipboard duties instruction or during
duties attendance at an approved
course
Contribute to Importance of maintaining good Assessment of evidence Expected standards of work
effective human human and working relationships obtained from approved and behaviour are observed
relationships on board aboard ship instruction or during at all times
ship attendance at an approved
course
Social responsibilities; employment
conditions; individual rights and
obligations; dangers of drug and
alcohol abuse