Course Description

This course provides competencies for the following components of Basic Safety Training:

Basic Firefighting: Provides minimum standard of competence in fire prevention and firefighting. Instruction and practical training in the use of fire extinguishers, hoses and self-contained breathing apparatus. Emphasis on the chemistry of a fire and emergency evacuation. This is the first component of four year’s training for Basic and Advanced Marine Firefighting certification ( Table A-VI/2 ). Prerequisite for Sea Term I .

This part consists of a two hour lecture, and an 8-hour practical.

Personal Safety and Social Responsibility: Provides minimum standards of competence in personal safety and social responsibility. Instruction in emergency procedures on board ship, precautions to prevent pollution of the marine environment, observing safe working practices, understanding shipboard orders and contributing to effective human relationships on board ship.

This part consists of four 1-hour lectures.

Personal survival techniques: Together with MT-1111, this part provides minimum standard of competence in personal survival techniques (STCW Table A-VI/1-1). Instruction and assessment in water survival during shipboard emergency to abandon ship. Instruction in dangers to the survivor in the water and the use of personal survival clothing and lifesaving devices. A component of Basic Safety Training certification.

This part consists of 1-hour lecture, and 8-hour practical.

This course consists of

STCW Objectives

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following STCW elements:

  • OICNW-C4.1 Immersion suits and thermal protective aids
  • OICNW-C8.4 Knowledge of social responsibilities
  • OICEW-D4.1 Immersion suits and thermal protective aids
  • OICEW-D8.4 Knowledge of personal safety
  • OICEW-D8.4 Knowledge of social responsibilities
  • RFPEW-A3.3 Familiarity with use of fire-fighting equipment
  • FF-X1.3 The elements of fire and explosion (the fire triangle)
  • FF-X1.4 Types and sources of ignition
  • FF-X1.5 Flammable materials, fire hazards and spread of fire
  • FF-X1.6 The need for constant vigilance
  • FF-X1.7 Actions to be taken on board ship
  • FF-X1.8 Fire and smoke detection and automatic alarm systems
  • FF-X1.9 Classification of fire and applicable extinguishing agents
  • FF-X2.2 fire-fighter’s outfits
  • FF-X2.2 fire-fighting agents
  • FF-X2.2 fire-fighting appliances and equipment
  • FF-X2.2 fire-fighting methods
  • FF-X2.2 fire-fighting procedures
  • FF-X2.2 personal equipment
  • FF-X2.2 use of breathing apparatus for fighting fires and effecting rescues
  • PSSR-X4.1 Understand the principles of, and barriers to, effective communication between individuals and teams within the ship
  • PSSR-X4.2 Ability to establish and maintain effective communications
  • PSSR-X5.1 Importance of maintaining good human and working relationships aboard ship
  • PSSR-X5.2 Basic teamworking principles and practice, including conflict resolution
  • PSSR-X5.3 dangers of drug and alcohol abuse
  • PSSR-X5.3 employment conditions
  • PSSR-X5.3 individual rights and obligations
  • PSSR-X5.3 Social responsibilities
  • SCRB-X3.6 use of protective covers and garments, including immersion suits and thermal protective aids

Demonstrate proficiency in the following skills:

  • FF-2PFE Use various types of portable fire extinguishers to extinguish smaller fires.
  • FF-2SBA Don and use a self-contained breathing apparatus
  • PS-1 Don a lifejacket
  • PS-3 Jump from a height into the water
  • PS-4 Right an inverted liferaft
  • PS-5 Swim while wearing a lifejacket
  • PS-6 Keep afloat without a lifejacket
  • PS-7 Board a survival craft while wearing a lifejacket
  • SCRB-1 Right an inverted lifefraft

Fire Fighting:

  1. Minimize the risk of fire
    • Concept and application of the fire triangle to fire and explosion
    • Types and sources of ignition
    • Flammable materials commonly found on board
    • The need for constant vigilance
    • Fire hazards
  2. Maintain a state of readiness to respond to emergency situations involving fires
    • Organization of shipboard fire fighting
    • Location of fire-fighting appliances and emergency escape routes
    • Fire spread in different parts of a ship
    • Fire and smoke detection measures on ships and automatic alarm systems
    • Classification of fires and appropriate extinguishing agents
  3. Fight and extinguish fires
    • Selection of fire-fighting appliances and equipment
    • Precautions for and use of fixed installations
    • Use of breathing apparatus for fighting fires
    • Use of breathing apparatus for effecting rescues

Personal Safety and Social Responsibility:

Human Relations

  • The importance of maintaining good personal and working relationships aboard ships.
  • The causes and symptoms, as well as the physical effects, of stress.
  • The results of stress-related judgment errors in giving orders, standing watch, and in all duties of the mariner.
  • The deleterious effects of stress on human relationships aboard ship.
  • Stress management techniques.
  • Conflict management techniques.

Communication

  • The principles of good communication and potential barriers to effective communication.
  • Techniques for clearly and effectively communicating.

Alcohol, Drug, and Controlled Substance Awareness

  • Basic knowledge of the laws pertaining to alcohol use.
  • Hazards of habitual use of alcohol, drugs and other controlled substances to an individual, to the morale of a ship, and to the safety of shipmates.
  • Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) policy on unauthorized possession or use of alcohol.
  • MMA policy on unauthorized possession or use of drugs and other controlled substances.
  • Introduction to MMA’s random drug testing program.
  • Introduction to DOT/USCG rules and regulations on unauthorized use or possession of alcohol, drugs and other controlled substances.

Health and Hygiene

  • The importance of basic of personal hygiene aboard ship.
  • The danger to shipmates of transmitting disease as well as how to prevent transmission.
  • Discussion of AIDS and other STDs.

Personal Survival:

Hypothermia and fatigue

  • In the water survival skills and techniques
  • TPAs
  • SOLAS approved PFDs

Demonstration of survival techniques

  • HELP
  • Huddle
  • Survival chain and carpet

Demonstration of basic survival skills

  • Floating and treading water
  • Holding breath underwater
  • Backstroke
  • Crawl
  • Donning a life preserver in the water
  • Donning an immersion suit in the water
  • Swimming to, and entering, a liferaft

Demonstration of basic rescue techniques

  • Shouting “Man Overboard”
  • Life ring toss
  • Pulling an unconscious victim in the water
  • Safely assisting conscious victims

Fire Fighting

  1. Identify the fire triangle and types of ignition sources aboard ship.
  2. Identify flammable materials and fire hazards aboard a ship.
  3. Learn the proper response to fire and other emergency signals.
  4. Learn about the organization of fire and emergency response teams aboard vessels.
  5. Identify the location of emergency gear lockers, fire escape routes, and fire detection systems.
  6. Practice fire extinguishment using portable fire hoses and extinguishers.
  7. Practice the proper donning of fire fighting gear, including SCBA’s.
  8. Practice search and rescue drills in reduced visibility while wearing turn-out gear and SCBA’s.

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