STCW Basic Safety Training

Both. The Convention supplies the regulations; the Code enlarges on and explains them. Expect questions on the eight chapters (I to VIII), on the split between mandatory Part A and recommended Part B, and on how the Code's competence tables translate a regulation into a practical standard you can be assessed against.

Part B is recommended guidance, not binding requirements, so questions about it are usually framed as 'what does the guidance suggest' rather than 'what must you do'. Part A is mandatory and carries the minimum standards of competence; weight your revision accordingly, but do not ignore Part B entirely because it explains the intent behind Part A.

The Convention does not fix question counts, time limits or paper format; those are set by the maritime administration or training provider delivering the assessment. Check your course documentation for the exact structure. This practice set follows the Convention's eight-chapter structure and splits coverage evenly across them, so no single chapter dominates.

The STCW Convention and Code set minimum standards of competence but do not publish a universal percentage pass mark for basic safety assessments. Passing criteria are set by the administering authority or the training institute. Treat any specific figure you hear as provider-specific rather than convention-wide, and confirm it with your course provider before you sit the assessment.

Yes, in part. The Manila Amendments introduced a refresher training module every five years for basic training on personal survival techniques and fire prevention and firefighting; for advanced firefighting; and for proficiency in survival craft, rescue boats and fast rescue boats. Plan for that cycle rather than assuming your certificate is permanent.

Three stand out: confusing Part A with Part B, muddling amendment years and the dates they entered into force, and mixing up which chapter covers what - particularly treating Chapter V special training as if it were general basic training. Practising with two-option scenario questions exposes the second-guessing that causes most lost marks.

Start with Chapter VI, which covers the emergency, safety, security, medical care and survival functions closest to basic safety training. Then read Chapter I for general provisions and definitions, and Chapter V for tanker, passenger ship and polar training requirements. Chapters II, III, IV, VII and VIII fill in the departmental and watchkeeping context.

The 1995 amendments, which adopted the STCW Code, and the 2010 Manila Amendments, which introduced measures on medical standards, hours of work and rest, drug and alcohol abuse prevention, ECDIS and other modern technology, security training, polar water training guidance and the five-year refresher module. Later amendments in 2014, 2015 and 2016 updated Chapter I and Chapter V material.

No. This is independent study material with no affiliation to IMO or to any maritime administration, and it confers no certificate. Certification comes from an approved training programme and the issuing authority in your country. Use these questions to check recall and to find gaps before formal assessment, not as a substitute for approved training.