Guidance

Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (Other than Fast Rescue Boats) (PSCRB) – Restricted Course

Published 23 December 2024

1. Introduction

Deck and Engineer Officers serving on Yachts are required to obtain a Certificate of Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (Other than fast rescue boats) or  a Certificate of Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (Other than fast rescue boats) (Restricted) as part of their ancillary qualifications.

The PSC&RB (Restricted) course was previously known as the Advanced Sea Survival course and is intended for use on yachts that are not equipped with davit launched lifeboats. There is a mandatory requirement to update your training at intervals not exceeding five years.

2. PSCRB (Restricted) Course

 As part of the ancillary course requirements towards a Deck OOW (Yachts) less than 3000GT or Engineer Officer Certificate of Competency (CoC), the individual must either obtain a Certificate of Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (Other than fast rescue boats), OR a Certificate of Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (Other than fast rescue boats) (Restricted).

To obtain a Certificate of Proficiency in PSC&RB (Restricted) the individual must:

1. Be at least 18 years of age
2. Hold a Certificate of Proficiency in Personal Survival Techniques (STCW Code A-VI/1-1)
3. Complete MCA-approved training for a Certificate of Proficiency in PSC&RB (Restricted) as detailed in Annex A of this notice
4. Have completed at least 6 months approved seagoing service

3. Updating Training

As of the 1st of January 2017, you must have documentary evidence of having completed the updating training required for the PSC&RB (Restricted). This training is detailed in Annex B of this notice. Such training must be updated at intervals not exceeding five years.

4. Application

Certificates of PSC&RB (Restricted) and Updated PSC&RB (Restricted) are not approved for service on any vessel equipped with davit launched lifeboats.

5. Course Criteria for PSCRB (Restricted)

These criteria have been developed to deliver education and training covering survival at sea to meet specific parts of the regulatory requirements of STCW Regulation VI/2, using the provisions of Article IX of the STCW Convention and Code 1978, as amended, and has also met the additional criteria specified, applicable to the issue of this certificate.

Who is the training is aimed at?

 This training is required by seafarers seeking certification under STCW Regulation VI/2 using the provisions of Article IX of the STCW Convention and Code 1978, as amended – training or instruction for ratings, able seafarers, trainee officers and others on board for PSC&RB (Restricted).

Training day and plans

A training day is defined as one which has no more than eight contact hours and cannot be more than 10 hours, including breaks.

Centres will need to present their training plans as part of the approval process. Centres are encouraged to fully engage learners in the learning process using interactive teaching methods supported by appropriate use of one or more of the following:

• Practical demonstration
• Simulation
• Team exercises

The training plans must:

• Define education and training objectives and related standards of competence to be achieved
• Identify the levels of knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the examinations and assessments required under these criteria

Assessment

The assessment shall be in three parts:

• In-course continuous assessment
• Practical assessment
• A final exercise designed to test the understanding of the techniques learnt during the course and an oral/written examination to test the underpinning knowledge

The assessment system, methods and practice must be valid, reliable and authentic. Each learner shall receive an assessment plan at the start of the training.

The assessment system should support appeals made by learners against assessment decisions.

A variety of sources of evidence may be used and must include evidence of learners’ ability to meet the criteria for evaluating competence.

A range of direct observation, oral questioning, simulation and practical demonstration are considered ideal approaches to generating much of the evidence required.

Assessments must be formally documented and be made available for verification audits.

Health and Safety: conduct of training

All training centres must adhere to applicable regulations made under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, as amended, and take proper account of the advice given in associated guidance documents and ‘Approved Codes of Practice’. Outside the UK, training centres must adhere to relevant national legislation.

Training centres are required to make assessments of any potential risks to the health and safety of staff and learners that may be associated with their activities. They are also required to identify, implement, monitor and review effective measures for minimising and controlling risks.

Centres are required to make effective arrangements for dealing with any emergency, incident or accident that may occur during training. In the UK, the foregoing is required in accordance with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, as amended.

The safety of learners and staff delivering training must be always ensured.

Practical exercises should be designed and delivered solely to meet the course criteria.

Centres must draw up their own safe working procedures to meet statutory Health and Safety obligations.

Staff to learner Ratio

The trainer to learner ratio should not exceed 1:8 for practical exercises and 1:24 for theory sessions. The number of learners on each course will depend upon the availability of trainers, equipment and facilities available for conducting the training. The number should not exceed that which will allow sufficient opportunity for each learner to take charge during practical exercises. As a minimum, there must be sufficient learners to form a crew for launching and handling survival craft.

Duration of the course

This course must take place over a minimum period of 3 days and must have a minimum of 18 hours of formal instruction.

Qualifications of instructors and assessors

Instructors and assessors are required to be qualified in accordance with the requirements of Regulation I/6 STCW. All training and instruction should be given, and assessments carried out, by suitably qualified and experienced personnel. All trainers and assessors should:

• Understand the specific objectives of the training
• Be familiar with the use and operation of life saving appliances and equipment commonly found in yachts
• An understanding of assessment methods and practice
• Practical instructional and assessment experience
• Hold a PSC&RB certificate or Advanced Sea Survival or PSC&RB (Restricted) certificate

Quality Standards

The arrangements for delivering the training and assessing competency must be continuously monitored through a quality standards system to ensure achievement of defined objectives.

Training centres are required to maintain a quality standard through documented procedures that shall be inspected at intervals not exceeding five years.

The quality standards systems and evaluation arrangements may be part of a centre’s overall quality assurance system.

Certification and documentation

On achievement of the desired standard of competence, a certificate will be issued by the centre in the format shown in Annex D.

The UK General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)

The training centre must provide individuals with information including: the purpose for processing personal data, retention records for that personal data, and who it will be shared with.  The MCA call this a ‘privacy notice’ which must be provided at the time of data collection.  The training centre must ensure that candidates’ Passport, National Insurance, Driving Licence, Birth Certification numbers, etc, is not displayed on documentation, e.g., the certificate issued to successful candidates.

6. Further Information

Further information on the contents of this guide can be obtained from the MCA at the address below or by contacting exams@mcga.gov.uk

UK Seafarer Training and Certification (Bay 2/13)
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG

Annex A - Course Criteria for PSCRB (Restricted)

Equipment and Facilities

1 x Liferaft (6 person minimum) complete with container including complete survival pack and survival equipment including:

• Floating knife/ Set of bellows/ Safety topping up valve/ Set of leak stops
• Drogue (sea anchor)/ Set of paddles/ Sponge/ Rescue line and quoit
• First aid pack/ Whistle/ Bailer/ Heliograph/ Repair outfit/ Survival rations
• Water/ Fishing kit/ Liferaft instruction/survival booklet/ Rescue signal table
• Signal torch
• 1 x Set emergency radio equipment (EPIRB, SART and Handheld GMDSS VHF)
• 1 x Set dummy pyrotechnics (handheld, rocket and smoke flares)
• 1 x Line throwing apparatus
• 1 x Hydrostatic release unit (HRU)
• 1 x MCA approved lifejacket per person
• 1 x MCA approved immersion suit
• 1 x Thermal protective aid
• 1 x Man overboard smoke/light marker with mounting
• 1 x Helicopter rescue strop
• 1 x Rescue boat (including equipment)
• 1 x Launching arrangement for rescue boat launch and recovery Examples of launching arrangement mechanisms
• Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers
• IAMSAR Volume III
• SOLAS Convention
• Onboard training manual
• Ship Captain’ s Medical Guide
• STCW Code/Convention
• Large Commercial Yacht Code (LY3) “Red Ensign Group Yacht Code”
• Current videos including:
  • Launch and recovery of rescue boat
  • Cold water survival
  • Launch and recovery of various types of lifeboats (including freefall)
  • Methods of launching Life Rafts

Aim

To provide education and training to yacht personnel who are required to take charge of a survival craft in emergency situations. This course is intended only for personnel serving on vessels not equipped with davit launched lifeboats and is intended as a direct replacement for the existing ‘Advanced Sea Survival’ certificate.

This certificate does not qualify the holder to operate fast rescue boats.

Competence:

• Take charge of a survival craft or rescue boat during and after launch
• Operate a rescue boat engine
• Manage survivors and survival craft after abandoning yacht
• Use locating devices, including communication and signalling apparatus and pyrotechnics
• Apply first aid to survivors

Entry Requirements

Before commencing training, trainees must be at least 18 years of age and have received approved training in Personal Survival Techniques (PST).

Training may be undertaken by individuals who have not achieved the sea service requirement of a minimum six months, but the certificate will not be awarded until proof of completion of six months sea service has been provided.

Training centres must ensure, through pre-course information and screening, that learners are fit to participate in all aspects of the training. In particular, they must be made aware of the practical aspects of the training and the physically demanding nature of some of the exercises. If there is any doubt as to an individual’s ability to participate in such exercises an appropriate risk assessment should be carried out to determine what is required to proceed in a safe manner. Training centres may consider utilising the UK ENG1 medical certificate, or equivalent, as an indicator of fitness.

Outcomes

There are five outcomes to the training:

Outcome 1: The learner can safely take charge of a survival craft or rescue boat during and after launch.

Outcome 2: The learner can operate a rescue boat engine.

Outcome 3: The learner can manage survivors and survival craft after abandoning vessel.

Outcome 4: The learner can use locating devices, including communication and signalling apparatus and pyrotechnics.

Outcome 5: The learner can apply first aid to survivors.

Outcome 1

The learner can safely take charge of a survival craft or rescue boat during and after launch.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe the construction and uses of different types of survival craft and rescue boats and individual items of their equipment commonly in use on different types of vessels including:

   1. The construction, contents and deployment of throw over and davit launched liferafts including automatic deployment of liferafts, should the vessel sink - plus their equipment and markings
   2. Use of a painter, sea anchor and associated launch and recovery equipment
   3. Vessel’s emergency organisation - musters, drills and training
   4. Identify Marine Guidance Notes, training materials and other sources of safety information
   5. Actions prior to abandonment, regarding lifejackets, protective clothing, extra stores and equipment

2. Identify the characteristics and facilities of survival craft and rescue boats, explain their main purpose, features and equipment.

3. Identify different types of devices used for the launching and recovery of survival craft and rescue crafts.

4. Risks and dangers associated with the types of devices used for the launching and recovery of survival craft and rescue boats.

5. Describe methods for launch, recovery and handling of survival craft in rough seas, covering abandon ship drill procedures.

6. Identify the actions to be taken after leaving the vessel, including commands for:

   1. Launching and boarding survival craft
   2. Clearing the yacht
   3. Handling and disembarking persons from survival craft
   4. Manoeuvring safely to recover a simulated person overboard from the water
   5. Returning alongside
   6. Recovering the craft safely

7. Identify the maintenance checks carried out on a regular basis to survival craft and the ‘First Aid’ maintenance procedures to be carried out in the event of equipment malfunction.

Outcome 2

The learner can operate a rescue boat engine.

Learning objectives:

1. Demonstrate how to conduct pre-start preparations and checks.

2. Demonstrate how to start rescue boat engines and describe:

   1. The safe and correct use of the inboard engine and associated equipment, including fire extinguisher
   2. Cold starting procedures
   3. Outboard engine operations, including starting and stopping procedures
   4. Basic fault finding or possible problems if the engine fails to start

Outcome 3

The learner can manage survivors and survival craft after abandoning the yacht.

Learning objectives:

1. Basic knowledge on Crisis Management techniques and Human Behaviour during emergency.

2. Understand the principles of passenger control in emergency situations.

3. Awareness of passenger reactions in an emergency situation.

4. Demonstrate how to handle survival craft and describe the actions to be taken in a survival craft until rescued, including initial and secondary procedures in lifeboats and life-rafts.

5. Demonstrate the actions taken to maximise detectability and location of survival craft, including:

   1. How to best use survival craft location aids, including pyrotechnic distress signals and radar reflectors
   2. Congregation of rescue boats and liferafts at a safe distance from the stricken vessel

6. Describe the effects of hypothermia and its prevention including the use of protective covers, garments, immersion suits and thermal protective aids.

7. Describe methods of helicopter rescue, including:

   1. Search and rescue organisation
   2. Methods of rescue by yachts and aircraft, including helicopter winching
   3. Precautions to be taken when disembarking survivors, especially cold/hypothermic casualties

8. Demonstrate the use of rescue boats for marshalling liferafts and rescue of survivors and persons from the sea, including the identification and use of various aids to recover casualties – ladders, stretchers, lifting devices, nets etc.

Outcome 4

The learner can use locating devices including communication and signalling apparatus and pyrotechnics.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe the correct rigging and appropriate use of radio life-saving appliances, including:

   1. EPIRBs, handheld radios (plus those equipped with air band frequencies as required for all passenger vessels) and radar transponders (SARTs)
   2. The use and choice of communication equipment and its appropriateness to the prevailing circumstances and conditions

2. Explain how best to use survival craft location aids, including pyrotechnic distress signals and radar reflectors.

Outcome 5

The learner can apply first aid to survivors.

Learning objectives:

1. Explain how to use items found in the first aid kit and demonstrate resuscitation techniques.

2. Demonstrate the management of injured persons, to cover:

   1. Dealing with injured persons in a survival craft during and after abandonment including casualty handling and management of conditions such as control of bleeding and shock
   2. Drowning, and dealing with prevention, effects and treatment of hypothermia
   3. Personal protection and use of immersion suits and thermal protective aids
   4. Cold weather injuries including frostbite and immersion foot
   5. Warm weather injuries including sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke
   6. Effects of seasickness and dehydration
   7. Explains the initial treatment for burns, scalds, bleeding and fractures
   8. Demonstrate a knowledge of the cause, effects and treatment of heat illness (burns, strokes and exhaustion)
   9. Is aware of the dangers of drinking sea water and urine
   10. Explains the management of survival supplies
   11. Understands the dangers of incorrect treatment
   12. Can explain the correct treatment of an unconscious survivor

Annex B - Course Criteria for Updating PSCRB (Restricted)

Introduction

It has been agreed that some of the required updating/refresher training may be carried out on board yachts, with certain elements that must be undertaken ashore at an MCA approved training centre. The following training and experience that can be undertaken onboard is:

1. Take charge of a survival craft or rescue boat during and after launch:

   1. Interpret the markings on survival craft as to the number of persons they are intended to carry
   2. Give correct commands for launching and boarding survival craft, clearing the yacht and handling and disembarking persons from survival craft
   3. Prepare and safely launch survival craft and clear the yacht’s side
   4. Safely recover survival craft and rescue boats

2. Manage survivors and survival craft after abandoning ship: Steer a rescue boat by compass. Use individual items of equipment of survival crafts, except for pyrotechnics. Rig devices to aid location.

3. Use locating devices, including communication and signalling equipment: Use of portable radio equipment for survival craft.

4. Apply first aid to survivors.

Where this onboard training and experience is undertaken, a self-declaration form (see Annex C) must be signed confirming that all the requirements have been met in order to attend the requisite shore-based training course.

Aim

To give all those seeking updating training for an Updated Certificate for Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (other than fast rescue boats) (Restricted) the essential education and training set out in Part 5 and Annex A of this guide.

This course is intended only for personnel serving on vessels not equipped with davit launched lifeboats

Outcomes

There is one outcome to the training: The learner can maintain the required standard of competence in survival craft and rescue boats (other than fast rescue boats) (Restricted).

Entry requirements

Before commencing training, trainees must be at least 18 years of age and hold a Certificate of Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (other than fast rescue boats) (Restricted), or equivalent.

Updating training is to be undertaken, in line with the above regulations, by seafarers holding a Certificate of Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (other than fast rescue boats) (Restricted), or equivalent, and who have maintained the required standard of competence, by onboard training and experience, for all competencies listed in the self-declaration form (Annex C).

Staff to learner ratio

As per PSC&RB (Restricted) course requirements detailed in Part 5 and Annex A of this guide.

Training duration

Not less than 3 contact hours over half a day.

Facilities and equipment

As required, taking account of PSC&RB (Restricted) course requirements detailed in Annex A.

Conduct of training

As required, taking account of PSC&RB (Restricted) course requirements detailed in Part 5 of this guide.

Certification and documentation

Upon achievement of the desired standard of competence a Certificate of Proficiency will be issued by the centre in the format shown Annex E.

Outcome 1

The learner can maintain the required standard of competence in survival craft and rescue boats (other than fast rescue boats) (Restricted).

Learning objectives

1. Identify characteristics and facilities of survival craft and rescue boats, explain their main purpose, features and equipment.

2. Identify different types of devices used for launching and recovery of survival craft and rescue boats and the dangers associated with the use of off-load and on-load release devices.

3. Describe methods for launch, recovery and handling of survival craft in rough seas, covering abandon ship drill procedures.

4. Demonstrate how to handle survival craft and describe the actions to be taken in a survival craft until rescued, including initial and secondary procedures in life-rafts.

5. Describe methods of helicopter rescue, including:

   1. Search and rescue organisation
   2. Methods of rescue by yachts and aircraft, including helicopter winching
   3. Precautions to be taken when disembarking survivors, especially cold/hypothermic casualties

6. Describe the effects of hypothermia, its prevention and treatment.

7. Demonstrate the management of warm weather injuries including sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

8. Safely operate and explain the safe operation of a survival craft engine, including:

   1. Pre-start preparations and checks
   2. Start, stop and safely operate survival craft engine
   3. Cold starting procedures
   4. Basic fault finding or possible problems if the engine fails to start

Annex C - Updating PSCRB-R Self Declaration Form

• Download Updated/Refresher PSCRB-R Self Declaration Form

Annex D - Specimen PSCRB-R Certificate

• Download Specimen PSCRB-R Certificate

Annex E - Specimen Updating PSCRB-R Certificate

• Download Specimen Updated/Refresher PSCRB-R Certificate

Annex F - Conditions for MCA Approval of Short Courses

1. Training centres offering training and assessment leading to the issue of a certificate of proficiency must be approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

2. MCA approval requirements are for a functional Quality Management System to be in place that ensures:

   1. Continued satisfactory delivery of the programme to the current standards, reflecting changes of  technology and best practice
   2. The training programme entry standards are met
   3. The agreed assessment process is maintained
   4. Only those who complete the training programme and meet any other necessary requirements are issued with certificates/documentary evidence
   5. Certificates are issued in a format that meets the MCA requirements, as per the examples provided at Annex D and Annex E
   6. Records of certificates issued are securely maintained until the 70th birthday of the certificate holder or five years from the date of issue whichever is the longer
   7. The record system enables authenticity of certificates to be verified, and replacement certificates issued
   8. Where approved for peripatetic delivery, formal assessment is carried out to ascertain the suitability of each venue and records of such assessment are retained for five years
   9. The approving MCA Office is informed of dates, timing and venues of all courses delivered
   10. Any changes made to the course content, facilities, equipment, training staff or other matter that may affect the delivery of the programme are reported to the approving Marine Office without delay

3. Monitoring of the training programme by the MCA proves to be satisfactory.

4. Re-approval by the MCA is carried out within 5 years of the approval or re-approval. Such approval and re-approval will incur costs in line with the fees in force at that time.

5. Should the training establishment cease to trade then all records of certificates issued should be sent to the MCA to enable them to carry out the verification and replacement functions.