STCW '95 study guide?

haleyd · 02-12-2010, 05:16 PM

Hi there! I'm going to be doing the STCW '95 training February 20-27. I have searched online and so far I'm coming up empty handed... I'm trying to find some sort of study guide or something that will give me a head start on the class. I'm pretty nervous about it and I was hoping that maybe if I could find something ahead of time I would feel a lot more comfortable going in to the class. Know what I mean? Any help that you could give me or ideas you could suggest, I would greatly appreciate!

Thanks!!

Haley

K1W1 · 02-12-2010, 05:24 PM

Hi,

Don't sweat it.

If you are doing the basic STCW 95 Safety Courses common sense is your best tool.

You will be taught everything you need to pass by the course you attend.

These are not full on exams they are just tests at the end of a few days of intense instruction and learning.

If you can't pass and I have only heard of one guy failing and that was a CPSC + RB then you might want to select another career path.

Henning · 02-12-2010, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haleyd

Hi there! I'm going to be doing the STCW '95 training February 20-27. I have searched online and so far I'm coming up empty handed... I'm trying to find some sort of study guide or something that will give me a head start on the class. I'm pretty nervous about it and I was hoping that maybe if I could find something ahead of time I would feel a lot more comfortable going in to the class. Know what I mean? Any help that you could give me or ideas you could suggest, I would greatly appreciate!

Thanks!!

Haley

You won't need anything, the STCW 95 basic is exactly that, the basics of the basics. Everything you need will be provided to you and reviewed in the class, then you take a quick quiz at the end of the session. I will give you this tip though, get a high quality long sleeved T-Shirt with snug wrist cuffs for doing the 15 minute unassisted float during water survival. You can blow it up in the water and hold the neck line tight against your chest for good flotation. It'll leak down slowly and then you just tilt your head down and add a couple of breaths. Repeat that every few minutes and you can float for days.

K1W1 · 02-12-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henning

You won't need anything, the STCW 95 basic is exactly that, the basics of the basics. Everything you need will be provided to you and reviewed in the class, then you take a quick quiz at the end of the session. I will give you this tip though, get a high quality long sleeved T-Shirt with snug wrist cuffs for doing the 15 minute unassisted float during water survival. You can blow it up in the water and hold the neck line tight against your chest for good flotation. It'll leak down slowly and then you just tilt your head down and add a couple of breaths. Repeat that every few minutes and you can float for days.

Holding a good residual lung volume does the same thing, staying calm is the key for this one.

haleyd · 02-12-2010, 06:35 PM

Thanks guys! I'm probably just letting myself stress more than I really need to. I've watched some youtube videos and it shows them fighting fires and in the water and I just got really nervous. HA! Also, MPT (where I'm doing my course) was supposed to send me a list of things I would need to take with me, and they haven't done that yet and I leave in one week. So that kind of worried me too! I'm sure it will come next week though... I'm going to call them tomorrow I think! Thanks again!

Henning · 02-12-2010, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haleyd

Thanks guys! I'm probably just letting myself stress more than I really need to. I've watched some youtube videos and it shows them fighting fires and in the water and I just got really nervous. HA! Also, MPT (where I'm doing my course) was supposed to send me a list of things I would need to take with me, and they haven't done that yet and I leave in one week. So that kind of worried me too! I'm sure it will come next week though... I'm going to call them tomorrow I think! Thanks again!

No worries girl. Firefighting is the most fun part of it. They have all the gear you need. You really don't need much. Last I heard MPT wasn't even having people do the 15 minute unassisted float. Most of water survival is spent getting familiar with the use of lifesaving gear like a survival suit and life raft. There should also be a "helicopter dunker" cage, but rarely do you use a slam dunker, typically it's just a cage they roll over with you in it. There's also entering the water with your life jacket on. It's all very safe, supervised and easy as long as you don't panic. If you're comfortable in the water, it's not an issue.

haleyd · 03-01-2010, 09:41 AM

I completed my training last week and it was a piece of cake! Very fun and incredibly informative! It really got me pumped and excited for when I move and can go full steam ahead with pursuing being a stew! I CAN'T WAIT!!!! thanks for calming my nerves guys, you were all right... it wasn't anything to get so nervous about!

K1W1 · 03-01-2010, 09:43 AM

Hi,

Your Welcome :-)

JuliaFiji · 07-06-2011, 09:52 PM

awesome thread! Heads up, I was just about to ask the same question as haley!! Thanks for the pointers and Haley I see you posted this last year. How are things with you now? All the best. I'm about to start mine as well and is sooo excited

Darien850 · 02-19-2012, 02:03 AM

Hello, I'm taking my basic stcw in march 2012 and im bit nervous on what to expect. I see that you were a bit nervous as well. Could you please give me a head start on what I will be doing and what will the final test be like please?

K1W1 · 02-19-2012, 02:13 AM

Hi,

Don't worry , just stay calm and enjoy the excitement.

If you have any doubts about these courses being a waste of time you might want to look here.

GREEK AIR FORCE RESCUE 8 FRENCH NATIONALS AS YACHT SINKS 17TH FEBRUARY 2012 - YouTube

The Training you get doing the courses is just an introduction to safety training. It is something that needs to be practised regularly during your career at sea. Hopefully you will never need to know these skills in a real life situation but the day you do you will be glad for the time spent honing them.

Darien850 · 02-19-2012, 12:35 PM

Ok thanks for that information. Does the test consist of multiple choice or written? and do you know what kind of question they will ask? Im not very strong at standardized test.

K1W1 · 02-19-2012, 12:53 PM

Hi,

I have not done these courses as a block myself as I have been at sea nearly 30 yrs and the courses were done individually back then.

They shouldn't ask you anything that hasn't been covered in the school.

As to multi choice or standard the biggest part of them as I remember them is common sense, this outlook might be a bit skewed as I enjoyed the courses and probably absorbed a lot more info a lot easier than studying something I didn't like.

Good Luck and once you have done it please post back with your experiences it might help someone who comes looking after you.

Darien850 · 02-19-2012, 01:06 PM

Ok thanks and i will surely do that.

tirekicker11 · 02-19-2012, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darien850

Ok thanks and i will surely do that.

I am very bad with written tests but I don't even remember having done a final test for the STCW. So either there is none or it was so simple that I forgot about it.