Basic Marine Fire Fighting

Course Duration: 2 Days (24 Hours)

​

Every year lives are lost at sea from sinking, collision, fire or other causes. When onboard, vessel personnel must be their own fire department, police, and ambulance.

Covered within this course are the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for seafarers (STCW), U.S. Coast Guard (Basic and Advance Fire Fighting), Title-46 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Marine Emergency Duties (MED)- Fire Fighting Canada Shipping Act, and other port state control organizations.

Any applicant successfully completing Northwest Maritime Academy’s 16-Hour Basic Fire Fighting Course and presenting the NWMA Certificate of Training at a Regional Exam Center (REC), will satisfy the following requirements:

(1) the Basic Safety Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting training requirements of Section A-VI/1 and Table A-VI/1-2 of the STCW Code and 46 CFR 12.602(2); –And–

(2) the Basic Fire Fighting training requirements of 46 CFR 11.201(h) and 11.302 for a license.

The classroom portion of the USCG approved Fire Prevention and Basic Firefighting course module includes shipboard firefighting organization, the elements of fire and explosion, types of ignition, and fire and smoke detection. You will learn about what chemicals or agents combat which types of fire, and how to determine what the causes of a fire might be and to dissect the issue.

Breathing-apparatus use and automatic-alarm-system familiarization are also covered.

The second day of basic fire training is the practical application: how to operate a fire extinguisher and how to do a search and rescue in a smoke-filled room, which includes how to navigate through the dark (the blind maze and right-hand search). Trainees will don fire suits and use a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) as they fight and extinguish actual fires using personal equipment. This practical instruction is taught by licensed and certified firefighting professionals.

The two-day STCW fire-school module is followed by a written examination.

There are no entry requirements other than general good health and the physical ability to safely carry out rigorous activities during live firefighting exercise. Each student will be required to complete a screening questionnaire prior to training to determine their ability to complete the course requirements.

*Before you register, please click here for our Covid-19 safety practices. Call 206-659-7178 or email elisabeth@seafarersworldwide.com for more information.