If you are working on a commercial or recreational vessel, the minimum legal requirement is to successfully complete the STCW Course. In this article, we will mainly discuss the STCW course prices in South Africa.
What is STCW? Why is it so important?
STCW stands for Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping. Introduced in 1978 to ensure the safety of all commercial seafarers, it is now an absolutely mandatory certificate. This internationally recognised certificate establishes that you have completed the safety training and understand the standard set of safety rules and regulations.
Since the STCW 2010 (Manila Convention), you will have to renew your STCW certificates every five years. These refresher courses are shorter and aim at reevaluating your STCW-related knowledge. Also, if there are any updated security or survival techniques and information, a refresher will help you with that as well.
STCW is mandatory for a reason. An experienced seafarer can tell you how unpredictable and dangerous the sea can be. Hence, the more you are equipped with survival and security knowledge off-shore, the better you can survive.
To get more information about the STCW Course itself in South Africa, read the following article.
STCW Certificate in South Africa
STCW Basic Training Course Prices in South Africa
South Africa has plenty of marine training institutes that offer STCW courses, ready to expedite your marine career. All these different institutions have their prices set, according to their own criteria. For you, it’s crucial to find out what exactly suits your budget and needs.
Compared to Europe and America, STCW course prices in South Africa are definitely cheaper. You can easily expect a 30-40% cheaper course in South Africa compared to Europe and the US. This makes South Africa one of the popular hubs for STCW courses and other marine industry courses.
The average price of the STCW Course in South Africa ranges from R6,500 (~365 EUR) to R10,000 (~560 EUR). Some institutions may demand more than R10,000 which is not so common but not unusual either. This course may last 9-11 days, depending on the institution and its training methods.
We suggest you contact us through our website for more information on pricing and duration.
What can you expect to learn from these STCW Courses?
The most basic expectation about learning in an STCW Course should be all five basic modules. They are as follows:
- Fire Fighting and Fire Prevention
- Personal Survival Techniques
- Proficiency in Designated Security Duties
- Basic First-Aid Course
- Personal Safety and Social Responsibility
Not all STCW Courses will offer you all five modules. Some of these courses are designed to cater towards a specific audience. For example, there could be candidates who only need some proficiency course or refresher in Personal Survival Techniques. So yes, there are institutions that offer their STCW Course modules individually.
Now, it is obvious that you would pay less for studying fewer modules. This is one of the reasons why STCW Course prices may vary.
This brings us to our next point. Always remember to check the content of a course before you decide to enrol in it. STCW Courses are generally expensive and expensive courses tend to include all five modules. However, if you see a course with a suspiciously cheap price tag, make sure you check its offered modules. If they offer all five modules for say, R3200, good chance you are walking into a scam.
Always do your STCW Course from a trusted, accredited institution and avoid scams for your own safety.
Conclusion
The STCW course is a mandatory requirement for all sea-going workers, which is for your own safety and knowledge. It is also one of the primary courses to begin your career in the marine industry. This means it matters to know the course prices to understand whether it is something you can afford to pursue or not.
Marine industry courses are not particularly cheap. However, via legit course certifications and good experience build-up, they prove to be one of the most rewarding career choices.
If you are looking for a trustworthy and reasonable STCW course to begin your journey, feel free to contact Sail and Power SA for further guidance. We are a SAMSA and RYA-accredited marine training institution based in Cape Town, South Africa. Feel free to give us a call or visit our website for more information today!