46 CFR 11.302: Basic Training for STCW officer endorsements
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets the Basic Training (BT) standard of competence that applicants seeking an STCW officer endorsement must show evidence of meeting. It covers four areas: personal survival techniques, fire prevention and firefighting, elementary first aid, and personal safety and social responsibilities. It also says which items sea service can cover, which need approved assessments ashore, and that certain seafarers must show every 5 years that they maintain BT competence.
Applies toParagraph (a) applies to applicants seeking an STCW officer endorsement, and paragraph (b) applies to seafarers qualified in accordance with § 11.301(c) and (d) of this subpart.
What it says
Applicants seeking an STCW officer endorsement must provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence for Basic Training (BT).
46 CFR 11.302(a)“Applicants seeking an STCW officer endorsement must provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence for Basic Training (BT) as follows:”
One Basic Training area is fire prevention and firefighting, as set out in Table A-VI/1-2 of the STCW Code.
46 CFR 11.302(a)(2)“Fire prevention and firefighting as set out in Table A-VI/1-2 of the STCW Code.”
Every 5 years, seafarers qualified in accordance with § 11.301(c) and (d) of this subpart must provide evidence of maintaining the standard of competence for BT.
46 CFR 11.302(b)“Every 5 years seafarers qualified in accordance with § 11.301(c) and (d) of this subpart must provide evidence of maintaining the standard of competence for BT.”
The Coast Guard will accept onboard training and experience, shown by evidence of 1 year of sea service within the last 5 years, for the areas listed in paragraph (c).
46 CFR 11.302(c)“The Coast Guard will accept onboard training and experience, through evidence of 1 year of sea service within the last 5 years, for the following areas:”
For the areas listed in paragraph (d), such as donning and using an immersion suit, the Coast Guard will only accept evidence of approved assessments conducted ashore.
46 CFR 11.302(d)“The Coast Guard will only accept evidence of approved assessments conducted ashore for the following areas:”
Applicants who cannot meet the requirement for 1 year of sea service within the last 5 years must meet paragraph (a) or complete approved or accepted refresher training.
46 CFR 11.302(e)“Applicants who cannot meet the requirement for 1 year of sea service within the last 5 years, as described in paragraph (c) of this section, will be required to meet the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section or complete approved or accepted refresher training.”
Common questions
How often must I show I still meet Basic Training standards?
Every 5 years, seafarers qualified in accordance with § 11.301(c) and (d) of this subpart must provide evidence of maintaining the standard of competence for BT.
“Every 5 years seafarers qualified in accordance with § 11.301(c) and (d) of this subpart must provide evidence of maintaining the standard of competence for BT.”
Can sea service count toward Basic Training?
Yes, for the areas listed in paragraph (c). The Coast Guard will accept evidence of 1 year of sea service within the last 5 years.
“The Coast Guard will accept onboard training and experience, through evidence of 1 year of sea service within the last 5 years, for the following areas:”
What if I do not have 1 year of sea service in the last 5 years?
Applicants who cannot meet that requirement must meet the requirements of paragraph (a) or complete approved or accepted refresher training.
“will be required to meet the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section or complete approved or accepted refresher training.”
The text of 46 CFR 11.302
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Basic Training
(a) Applicants seeking an STCW officer endorsement must provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence for Basic Training (BT) as follows:
(1) Personal survival techniques as set out in Table A-VI/1-1 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 11.102 of this part).
(2) Fire prevention and firefighting as set out in Table A-VI/1-2 of the STCW Code.
(3) Elementary first aid as set out in Table A-VI/1-3 of the STCW Code.
(4) Personal safety and social responsibilities as set out in Table A-VI/1-4 of the STCW Code.
(b) Every 5 years seafarers qualified in accordance with § 11.301(c) and (d) of this subpart must provide evidence of maintaining the standard of competence for BT.
(c) The Coast Guard will accept onboard training and experience, through evidence of 1 year of sea service within the last 5 years, for the following areas:
(1) Personal survival techniques as set out in Table A-VI/1-1 of the STCW Code:
(i) Donning a lifejacket.
(ii) Boarding a survival craft from the ship, while wearing a lifejacket.
(iii) Taking initial actions on boarding a lifeboat to enhance chance of survival.
(iv) Streaming a lifeboat drogue or sea-anchor.
(v) Operating survival craft equipment.
(vi) Operating location devices, including radio equipment.
(2) Fire prevention and firefighting as set out in Table A-VI/1-2 of the STCW Code:
(i) Using self-contained breathing apparatus.
(ii) Performing a rescue in a smoke-filled space, using an approved smoke-generating device aboard, while wearing a breathing apparatus.
(3) Elementary first aid as set out in Table A-VI/1-3 of the STCW Code.
(4) Personal safety and social responsibilities as set out in Table A-VI/1-4 of the STCW Code.
(d) The Coast Guard will only accept evidence of approved assessments conducted ashore for the following areas:
(1) Personal survival techniques as set out in Table A-VI/1-1 of the STCW Code:
(i) Donning and using an immersion suit.
(ii) Safely jumping from a height into the water.
(iii) Righting an inverted liferaft while wearing a lifejacket.
(iv) Swimming while wearing a lifejacket.
(v) Keeping afloat without a lifejacket.
(2) Fire prevention and firefighting as set out in Table A-VI/1-2 of the STCW Code:
(i) Using various types of portable fire extinguishers.
(ii) Extinguishing smaller fires, e.g., electrical fires, oil fires, and propane fires.
(iii) Extinguishing extensive fires with water, using jet and spray nozzles.
(iv) Extinguishing fires with foam, powder, or any other suitable chemical agent.
(v) Fighting fire in smoke-filled enclosed spaces wearing self-contained breathing apparatus.
(vi) Extinguishing fire with water fog or any other suitable firefighting agent in an accommodation room or simulated engineroom with fire and heavy smoke.
(vii) Extinguishing oil fire with fog applicator and spray nozzles, dry chemical powder, or foam applicators.
(e) Applicants who cannot meet the requirement for 1 year of sea service within the last 5 years, as described in paragraph (c) of this section, will be required to meet the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section or complete approved or accepted refresher training.
Sections it refers to
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.