SSO Course vs STSDSD Course vs ISPS Course
SSO Course vs STSDSD Course vs ISPS Course
Currently courses like
ISPS(International Ship and Port Facility Security),
SSO(Ship Security Officer),
STSDSD (Security Training for seafarers with Designated Security Duty)
etc are offered for seamen & from 1st Jan without security course no one is allowed to go onboard.
I am an Fresher as Engine Cadet (Jr. Engr) and wanted to know clearly that which course should I do & which not to do & why.
That is which Security Course is for Seamen of Engine Department and which is for Deck Department & does different ranks have to do different course..?
- X
1 HI Abhay, following is what I understand.
Since ISPS came there was no industry standard for ISPS training which was required by ISPS Code. Some companies started ISPS familiarisation but it was never DG Shipping required.
Later SSO Course became a mandatory course for Mariner who act as SSO onboard.
STCW 2010 made it mandatory that any onboard staff with designated security duties needs to be trained and in came STSDSD, DG Shipping approved ISPS course. STSDSD course is to be done by everyone on-board since all have some or other security duty on-board.
Refresher courses are required because STCW 2010 wants onboard SSO refresh his learning every 5 years. Things have certainly changed since I did SSO in 2008 now there are Transit corridors/Security guards, Citadel etc. so Refresher SSO course came in picture.
Now about Deck / Engine doing which course. ISPS and STCW does not differentiate these courses as per Ship departments but they talk of SSO duties. Since different Shipping Companies designate different Merchant Navy ranks as SSO so various ranks are required to do this course. In most companies C/O is designated as SSO but there are companies which designate C/E and 2/O as SSO. I do not know any company which designate 2/E as SSO yet they too are required to do SSO refresher for imaginary case of injured SSO C/E !
The confusion is created more so because ISPS courses are now mandatory and so you are required to pay the fees, hence most Shipping companies are least interested and want you to do these Marine courses. Marine college are making money by forcing you to do full SSO course than just 3 hrs Refresher SSO (for designated SSO) or STSDSD for everyone. Other courses are subset of SSO only, so every college wants to tap this confusion. Even senior ship staff are either confused OR ready to join early and hence pay 7-8 times more by doing complete SSO course.
I will soon update Marine colleges in India with refresher course and also follow with concerned circular within few months ;-( .
Since you are a trainee engineer I think you need to do only STSDSD course but it is still better to confirm from your Company. - X
0 Thank You, for full detail information, I hope this will help every mariner who was confused like me.
MERCHANT NAVY FORUM PERSONAL DOCUMENT STCW COURSES
