In everyday Turkish, "emniyet" (safety) and "güvenlik" (security) are often used to mean the same thing. In maritime law they are separate areas. Safety training covers subjects such as survival, fire fighting and first aid. Security training relates to ship and port security, the subject of Chapter XI-2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the ISPS Code. Seafarer training is grouped along this line too. Candidates who do not know the distinction can reach the application stage with a document missing.
Safety training: for everyone
The Seafarers and Maritime Pilots Regulation of 29 August 2024, based on Regulations VI/1 and VI/2 of the STCW Convention, makes the following maritime safety training mandatory for all seafarers:
- personal survival techniques at sea,
- elementary first aid,
- fire prevention and fire fighting,
- personal safety and social responsibilities,
- proficiency in survival craft.
This training does not depend on position. Working on deck, in the engine room, in the galley or in cabins makes no difference. The four modules our STCW guide describes as "basic safety training" are the first four on this list. The regulation adds proficiency in survival craft as a fifth item. Refresher training is covered in that guide too.
Security training: also for everyone
On the security side, the regulation, based on Regulation VI/6 of STCW, makes two courses mandatory for all seafarers:
- security-related familiarisation training,
- security awareness training.
The Administration issues a Security-Related Familiarisation Certificate and a Security Awareness Certificate to seafarers who document completing these courses at an authorised training institution.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), describing the 2010 Manila amendments to STCW, lists new security training requirements for all seafarers among their main points. In other words, extending security training to all seafarers is a newer requirement than safety training.
Security training tied to a duty
Some security training is not for everyone but for those who take on a particular duty on board:
- Training for seafarers with designated security duties: mandatory for seafarers assigned to security duties as defined in SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
- Ship security officer training: mandatory under STCW Regulation VI/5 for those who will serve as ship security officer. The regulation also requires sea service for this certificate.
For a candidate joining a ship for the first time, these two are usually not the first item on the agenda. But if a posting mentions "security duties" or "ISPS", it is sensible to ask whether the employer requires one of these courses.
Safety training added for officers
On the safety side, training grows with responsibility. Under the regulation:
- All officers complete first aid training; chief mates and masters also complete medical care training.
- Officers assigned to control fire-fighting operations complete advanced fire fighting training.
- All officers on ships with fast rescue boats complete training in operating fast rescue boats.
This list shows a candidate on the officer route which courses will be added later. For someone starting as a rating, these come at the promotion stage, not on the first day.
Training added by vessel type
Some training depends not on duty but on the type of vessel. Seafarers working on passenger ships must complete passenger ship training. The regulation also has separate training provisions for those working on tankers and on ships using gases or other low-flashpoint fuels. If your target vessel type is clear, add the training specific to that type to your document plan.
From training to certificate
Completing a course is not enough on its own; it has to become a certificate. The regulation calls these documents "specialist certificates", and they are issued by the Administration to seafarers who meet the requirements. In the regulation, the Administration means the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. The practical point: an attendance certificate from an institution and a specialist certificate issued by the Administration are not the same thing. Asking the institution how your certificate will be passed to the Administration and when your record will be entered into the system makes things easier.
Planning it in practice
For a new candidate, the picture can be summed up as: safety training mandatory for all seafarers, two security courses mandatory for all seafarers, and training specific to the target vessel type. All of these should be taken at an authorised training institution and recorded in the Seafarer Information System (GİBS).
The order matters too. First a medical report from an authorised centre, then the seafarer's book application, then mandatory training. Starting training before any health issue has been ruled out carries the risk of training you cannot use.
Frequently asked questions
I completed basic STCW training. Do I also need security training?
Under the regulation, yes. Security-related familiarisation training and security awareness training are mandatory for all seafarers, separately from basic safety training.
What is ISPS?
The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. The regulation makes training for designated security duties mandatory for seafarers assigned to the security duties defined in this code.
I will work in the galley. Do I need this training too?
Basic safety training and the familiarisation and awareness courses are mandatory for all seafarers. Your department does not change that.