MARSS00008 Shipboard Safety Skill Set

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Shipboard Safety Skill Set?

  It’s a short nationally recognised safety course, the MARSS00008 Shipboard Safety Skill Set. It gives you the basic safety training you need to work on a commercial vessel. A lot of people do it as their first step before a bigger maritime ticket.

• Who needs the Shipboard Safety Skill Set?

  Anyone starting commercial maritime work usually needs it, and it’s often a prerequisite for other tickets like a General Purpose Hand or Coxswain. If you’re not sure whether you need it for your role or your next course, ask us and we’ll let you know.

• What does the Shipboard Safety Skill Set cover?

  It covers the four core safety units: applying basic survival skills if a vessel has to be abandoned, preventing and fighting fires on board, meeting work health and safety requirements, and surviving at sea using survival craft. In short, the things that keep you and the crew safe at sea. The full unit list is on the course page.

• How long does the Shipboard Safety Skill Set take?

  It’s a short course run over a small number of days, since it’s a focused safety skill set rather than a full qualification. Current dates and the exact length are on the course page.

• Is the Shipboard Safety Skill Set a prerequisite for other maritime courses?

  Often, yes. The Shipboard Safety Skill Set is commonly required before or alongside other commercial tickets, because the safety basics come first. We can tell you whether it’s needed for the course you’re eyeing off, so you do things in the right order.

• Are your courses nationally recognised?

  Yes. We’re a Registered Training Organisation, RTO 90440. Your qualification is nationally recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework. It comes from the MAR Maritime Training Package and is cited by AMSA under Marine Order 505. So the ticket you earn with us is recognised by employers and regulators right across Australia.

• Do you offer government-subsidised or funded training?

  Yes. Eligible students can train through the NSW Smart and Skilled program. It can cut your course fees, and for some qualifications it covers most of the cost. Whether you qualify depends on your residency, age and any training you’ve done before. Want to check? Visit our Smart and Skilled page or give us a call and we’ll confirm it for you.

• How do I enrol in a course?

  Pick your course from the Courses page and hit Book Now. You’ll finish your enrolment and payment online in a few minutes. Prefer to talk it through first? Call us on 1300 302 123 and we’ll help you choose the right course. Once you’re booked, we’ll send you everything you need to get started.