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GWO BST Sea Survival Course Overview

The Sea Survival module is an integral part of our new GWO accredited offshore wind farm training course.

This course will prepare you to respond safely to life-threatening emergencies whilst working offshore. Including safe evacuation, casualty recovery, and the use of PPE.

GWO Sea Survival Course Aims

We work in partnership with Checkmate Safety Training to ensure that this course delivers an efficient combination of theoretical and practical training; to provide delegates with the fundamental skills they need to stay safe working with offshore wind farms. This includes learning preventative measures to stop accidents from occurring, and to ensure successful delegates can take fast and correct action in the event of a problem arising.

Preparing to work safely in an offshore wind energy environment means that you can protect yourself and your colleagues both onshore, aboard a transfer vessel, and when working with the wind turbine generators (WTGs).

GWO Sea Survival Training Course Structure

This course is designed to take place in two four-hour sessions and comprises ten sections. Some of these will be theoretical five-minute discussions, and others will be longer and more in-depth, with two longer practical sessions to test your skills. Delegates will be in small groups of 12 per trainer for theoretical learning and four per trainer for practical work, to ensure each trainee gets the attention they need to become confident in these new skills.

An Introduction to the Maritime Skills Academy

The course will begin with delegates being introduced to the training facility, its safety procedures, the trainers, and the other delegates. The aims and objectives of the course will be made clear as well as the plans for both ongoing and final evaluation.

GWO Sea Survival Legislation

This portion of the course will include a short discussion, covering both global and national safety legislation, emphasising the importance of understanding the regulations in place where you are working.

Exposure, Cold Shock, Hypothermia and Drowning module

The next section is theory-based, outlining the risks, signs, treatment of exposure, cold shock, hypothermia, and drowning. Identifying these symptoms is essential for peer and self-identification when responding to offshore emergencies. This way, signs can be treated accordingly, and casualties can be handled with care post-identification.

Lifesaving Appliances and Personal Protective Equipment for Offshore Windfarm workers

The correct and confident usage of safety equipment is paramount in high-risk industries such as offshore and windfarm. With our GWO Sea Survival Course, delegates will receive thorough teaching and in-person demonstrations on the usage and donning of protective clothing and equipment. This will include personal protective equipment (PPE) and collective protective equipment such as lifesaving appliances (LSAs).

SAR and GMDSS

A discussion about search and rescue (SAR) protocols, and the global maritime distress signal system (GMDSS) to ensure delegates are aware of what to do in the event they are needed to help rescue a colleague, or they require rescuing themselves.

Practical GWO Sea Survival

The first practical session, where delegates are required to put the skills they have learned so far into practice, will include donning and using protective equipment, carrying out rescue procedures and using the correct distress signals.

Safe Transfer to and from Wind Turbine Generators

This section revolves around safety aboard the vessel used to transfer Wind Turbine Generator (WTG) workers to and from the offshore wind turbine farm. The safe handling of equipment and hazards relating to different types of transfers will be discussed.

Installations, Vessels and WTGs

This theory-based discussion will ensure delegates have all the information they need to remain safe onboard vessels, during the installation and maintenance of WTGs and are confident in executing contingency plans should issues arise.

GWO Transfer Practical Training

The second practical session will see delegates practising skills learned in the previous sections of the course. They will need to show they are comfortable transferring from dock to vessel and then to WTG, as well as safe handling of onboard equipment and safety procedures. During this session, delegates will demonstrate their ability to climb and descend during an emergency, as well as recovering casualties.

GWO Sea Survival Final Assessment

Delegates are given the opportunity to reflect on what they’ve learned, as well as give a written and oral assessment of the training course.

The final exam will include questions on all the modules covered in the course.

Check our course dates now to find the perfect time for you to learn all you need to know about Sea Survival working with offshore wind energy.

We now have even more course capabilities, in partnership with Checkmate Safety Training. Including GWO Fire Awareness and First Aid courses.

Check out our new GWO page here to find out more!

Which Marine Course Should I Take?

If you’re considering a career at sea, or looking to work in the maritime industry, there will be marine courses that you will need to complete.

However, not all courses are mandatory, as it will still depend on the role you’re looking for.

At the Maritime Skills Academy, we offer a variety of marine courses that can open a number of doors.

Basic Safety Training (BST)

Starting with the most important marine course, by gaining your BST, you’ll be able to apply for a wide range of roles.

The BST course covers all five modules that make up the basic Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) certification, including:

Fire prevention & Fire Fighting
Personal Survival Techniques
Elementary first Aid
Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities
Security Awareness

Which Jobs Require BST?

Holding the Basic STCW certification is a legal requirement for any mariner that works on board a commercial vessel longer than 24 metres, including ferries, tankers, cruise ships and more. In addition, the BST is a prerequisite for many more advanced courses that will help to develop your career at sea.

How often do I need to refresh my maritime training?

(updating courses as per Manila amendments)

Here are the refreshers that require updating every 5 years:

UPST (0.5 days theory and practical)
UFP&FF (1 day practical)
UAFF (1 day theory)
UPSCRB (0.5 or 1 day Theory and practical)
UFRB (0.5 day or 1 day theory and practical)
UPMC (medical care 3 days practical)

It is mandatory for all crew to retake the courses every five years. Refreshers are shorter than the full course you took the first time around. You also have the option to self-declare onboard training so you can take shortened updating courses.

GWO Basic Safety Training (BST)

GWO Basic Safety Training (BST) is an internationally recognised health and safety certification for people working in the wind energy industry. The program covers five key safety topics, including:

Fire awareness
First aid
Manual handling
Sea survival
Working at heights

MSA has partnered with Checkmate (HART) to offer all modules of the GWO BST programme. At MSA Dover, we offer the GWO Sea Survival course, covering the topics:

Risks related to transfers
Transfer from vessel to dock and vessel to foundation
Emergency and safety procedures on installations, vessels, and WTG
Evacuation from WTG to the water by means of rescue device
Individual and collective survival techniques at sea

The one-day intensive course combines both theory and practical elements to ensure that students are prepared for any eventuality while working offshore.

What Jobs Require GWO Basic Safety Training (BST)?

The GWO BST is required for all workers in the offshore renewables industry, including:

Technicians
Engineers
Project Managers
Management Staff

Currently, the UK offshore renewables industry employs 40,000 workers, with that number expected to rise to 97,000 by 2030, meaning there’s plenty of opportunity to work in this growing industry.

MCA Approved Engine Course 1 (AEC1)

The MCA Approved Engine Course 1 (AEC1) is a must for anyone looking to pursue a career as a marine engineer or ship operator aboard a commercial vessel under 24 meters in length.

Not only is the course recognised (and often required) by private captains and charter companies, but it is also a required step toward obtaining the Engineer Officer Certificate of Competency from the MCA.

The AEC1 course covers a variety of topics, including:

Compression ignition engines
Two- and four-stroke operation cycles
Fuel systems
Cooling systems
Electrical systems
Lubrication technologies
Power transmission units

Over the five-day course, students will receive both classroom instruction and hands-on experience with engines, allowing them to put their new knowledge to the test.

What Jobs Require MCA Approved Engine Course 1 (AEC1)?

Although the MCA Approved Engine Course 1 (AEC1) isn’t legally required for work aboard commercial vessels under 24 meters in length, it is typically required (or preferred) by private captains and charter companies.

In addition, the AEC1 course is a necessary step toward obtaining the Engineer Officer Certificate of Competency from the MCA. Obtaining the Engineer Officer Certificate of Competency along with the Basic STCW certification allows holders to serve as chief or first assistant engineer on Merchant Navy vessels of any size.

Launch Your Maritime Career at the Maritime Skills Academy

Unfortunately, there is no single answer to the question, “Which maritime course is best?”

The best marine course for you will depend on your career goals and the type of vessel you hope to work on.

Discover our MCA, GWO, and BMA approved courses that will help you launch your maritime career.

To learn more about our courses or to find out which one is right for you, feel free to browse our course catalogue or contact our booking team to discuss your requirements.

Why is Marine Pilot Ladder Transfer Training important?

Pilot ladder transfers, although safer than ever before, are the most perilous aspect of a pilot’s voyage. An International Maritime Pilots Association investigation (which spanned from the 16th to the 30th of May 2025) found that over 14% of the 5,200 participants reported substandard transfer arrangements.

Enforcing safety standards that ensure crew are prepared for pilot ladder transfers and for navigating pilot ladders in different conditions or scenarios, is as vital as ever.

What is a pilot ladder transfer?

Maritime pilotage is a service that guides larger vessels into a town’s port. Pilots are familiar with the port in question, and pilot boats are smaller vessels that can manoeuvre easily. Often required during bad weather or poor visibility, the role of a pilot can be high-risk.

Pilotage can, on occasion, require crew to board the larger vessel they are assigned to. This involves using either a gangway, a combination ladder, an accommodation ladder, or a pilot ladder. The most dangerous of these is a pilot ladder.

Marine pilot climbing ladder during practical marine pilot ladder transfer training

A pilot ladder consists of two strong ropes that hang from the deck or bulwark of a ship, slatted with hardwood spreaders (steps that prevent a ladder from twisting). Marine pilots are required to pull their pilot boats alongside the larger vessel and climb onto the ship whilst both are in motion.

What are the dangers crew face during pilot ladder transfers?

The greatest risk to crew members during a pilot ladder transfer is falling. Whether that be into the sea or back onto the deck of their pilot boat–Both of which can be fatal.

With marine pilots often being called out in poor weather, falling into the sea can risk them getting lost, swept under, or knocked out. Whether a fall is a result of violent seas or faulty, broken ladders, it is important to be trained in controlled falls and rescuing fallen casualties.

Another risk of pilot ladder transfers is crew getting stuck between the two vessels they are transferring to and from. It can be difficult for pilots to navigate steadily beside a larger vessel especially when both vessels are moving. This risk is in almost all cases fatal and is a hard circumstance to train crew for. At the Maritime Skills Academy, we teach crew how to safely abort a pilot ladder transfer, so once a hazard is assessed, evacuation or rectification is as safe as possible.

How can pilot ladder transfer training reduce the risks?

Training pilots to safely transfer between vessels, using standard methods and procedures, means crew are prepared to respond to hazardous situations. Although we cannot reduce the dangers marine pilots face, we can train them to respond safely and evacuate when necessary.

Our course prepares crew to identify and rectify damaged pilot ladders. This means pilots can take responsibility for their own safety if the vessel they are boarding has failed to do so.

We also train crew to assess pilotage risks. If a venture is too high-risk, a pilot may decide against a pilot ladder transfer. But without proper training, risk assessments may be unsatisfactory, and crew could be at risk of injury or casualty.

UKMPA endorsed pilot ladder transfer training

Our UKMPA-endorsed pilot ladder transfer safety training course focuses on proper rigging, inspection, and maintenance of pilot ladders, as well as risk management during transfer operations. Using both classroom and practical learning to teach pilots about real-world scenarios and showing them how to respond firsthand.