STCW Proficiency in Security Awareness (PSA) Course – LISCR

Liberian Registry (LISCR) Approved Maritime Security Training for Crew & Staff Without Security-Related Duties Onboard a Vessel – IMO Model Course 3.27

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Course Brochure

The aim of this Online Proficiency in Security Awareness (PSA) Course, which is also referred to as a Vessel Security Awareness (VSA) Course, is to provide those crew and staff engaged onboard Vessels with the essential education and training meeting with the Knowledge, Understanding and Proficiency (KUP) requirements, also including the 2010 Manila Amendments, and the requirements of Section A-VI/6, paragraphs 4 of the STCW Convention and Code, the International Ship and Port Facility security (ISPS) Code and Table A-VI/6-1.

About the Course

In accordance with the ISPS Code, there exists a requirement for security certification for individuals who are regularly onboard vessels or visit them. Our fully online, ISPS Code-compliant, LISCR Approved Proficiency in Security Awareness (PSA) Course fulfils the essential mandatory training criteria set by STCW ISPS for crew or staff on Vessels who do not have designated security responsibilities onboard. This course provides learners with the necessary knowledge to meet the prescribed training standards outlined by the Liberian Registry (LISCR), STCW, the Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB), and the IMO Model Course 3.27.

The Aim of the Course

This training provides essential education for crew members without specific security roles, ensuring they meet the Knowledge, Understanding, and Proficiency (KUP) standards detailed in STCW Table A-VI/6-1. These standards align with Chapter XI-2 of the annex to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974, as amended, and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. Please note that all seafarers working in any role on vessels subject to ISPS Code compliance must complete the LISCR Approved Proficiency in Security Awareness (PSA) Course.

Awarding Body

The Course has received complete Approval from the Liberian Registry (LISCR). It covers the 2010 Manila Amendments and conforms to the specifications outlined in Section A-VI/6, paragraph 4 of the STCW Convention and Code, along with Table A-VI/6-1.

Course Certificate Process

Upon receipt of this information, VIRSEC will use it to apply for your “Certificate of Training Recognition” which is proof of your attending a course and it is provided by the Liberian Registry (LISCR) online Portal. There is a standard minimum 5-day turnaround on this process, but it may be faster. Please Note: Under the Liberian Registry (LISCR), no-one can award an official course certificate as this can only be provided by a LISCR Office.

You will then be required to apply to a LISCR Office to receive your official Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) or Certificate of Competency (CoC).

Please Note: When you are trying to access your Certificate of Training Recognition from the Liberian Registry (LISCR) via the link sent to your email, make sure that you are doing this using a laptop, or desktop PC. If you try to download the certificate the first time and it fails due to the type of device you are using being incompatible (smart phone, tablet, etc), then LISCR will charge you $10.00 USD per retry thereafter. VIRSEC accepts no liability or responsibility for any costs applied by LISCR.

Course Learning Outcomes

The online LISCR Approved Proficiency in Security Awareness (PSA) Course meets with the Learning Outcomes that have been provided by the Merchant Navy Training Board [MNTB].

Be aware of the importance of ship security and the roles of those involved in its provision.
Be aware of the requirements and measures to maintain ship security.
Be able to recognise and report a security threat.

Course Subjects

The course includes the following subjects:

A working knowledge of Maritime Security Terms and Definitions, including those that relate to Maritime Piracy and Armed Robbery against Shipping.
An understanding of International Maritime Security Policy.
An understanding of the Maritime Security (MARSEC) Levels and their impact on security measures and procedures aboard ship and in port facilities.
How to report a security incident
An understanding of security-related contingency plans.
How to recognise security threats, including Maritime Piracy and Armed Robbery against Shipping.
How to recognise weapons, dangerous substances and devices and an understanding of the damage they can cause.
The importance of information security with regards to Sensitive Security-Related Information (SSRI) and Communications.
An understanding of the importance of security related drills and exercises including those relating to Anti-Piracy and Anti -Armed Robbery.

Course Duration

The duration of the online LISCR Approved Proficiency in Security Awareness (PSA) Course is around 3.5 to 4 hours. A slight variance is allowed to accommodate different reading speeds, but the minimum time requirement must be fulfilled along with the relevant official assessments to successfully finish the course. This is a mandatory requirement under the Liberian Registry.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for attending this online course.

Bulk Purchases

Book your STCW (LISCR Approved) Security Awareness Course at VIRSEC, where you can learn about Maritime Security Awareness Training. If you have any questions about the course or any of our other Maritime Security Training Courses, please contact us to inquire about bulk purchasing and associated discounts. You can also call us on +44 (0)161 763 4427 and ask for Olivia or Cathy who will happily assist you.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Is this course Approved by a Flag State?

Yes, the fully online Proficiency in Security Awareness or PSA Course, is fully Approved under the Liberian Registry (LISCR). The course complies with the requirements placed upon it by the STCW Convention & Code, the International Ship & Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, and meets with the Knowledge, Understanding & Proficiency (KUP) requirements laid out by the Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) and IMO Model Course 3.27.

Is this course Internationally recognised?

Yes, this course is fully compliant with the Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping (STCW). Any country that is signed up to the ISPS Code and STCW Convention should accept our certification. It is always a good idea to confirm with your company or vessel if they accept Liberian Registry (LISCR) Certification, as some do not regardless of the IMO Whitelist.

Can you take the course online or offline?

We provide you with the option to complete the course entirely online, as expected. Or via an offline capability accessible through an app, via Google Play or the Apple App Store. You can download the course to the app and study even while at sea or in areas with poor internet connectivity. Once you return to land or a location with good signal quality, you can upload the course to the system and synchronise it with your user area on the LMS [https://virseclms.org]. For further information on accessing the course(s) offline, please reach out to us at training@virsec.org.

How long do I have to complete my online course?

All our courses have a six (6) month access licence applied to them. This licence commences the day the course is purchased, and not from the day you first access the course. You may however enter and exit the course as often as you like until both the course and assessment(s) are completed.

Do I need to take notes on the course?

There is no requirement to as VIRSEC provides you with a comprehensive set of Course Notes that you can download at the start of each of the Learning Outcomes. You can also use these notes to research any answers when taking the Official Assessment at the end of the course. However, if you wish to do so, that is your decision.

Is there a minimal time limit I must spend on this course?

Yes, under the relevant Agencies and Conventions, the Security Awareness is a 4-hour course. This excludes any video content we have included [for interest], viewing of any websites linked from the course or documents also linked from the course. We are allowed a variation in timings due to individual reading speeds, the time listed in 3 to 4 hours, and we will fail you if you exceed the allowed variance. Please also note that the Course Notes are purely there for reference and revision, and any time spent reading these do not count towards your time spent on the course. This is also covered in the course itself, so make sure you spend the time necessary to study properly.

Can I take breaks, or do I need to complete the course in one sitting?

You can take a break from the course at any time of your choosing. We also recommend that you have regular breaks and often build reminders into our courses. It is strongly recommended that if you are going to take a significant break, we recommend that you log out. The system will remember your progress so you may continue from that point when you log back in.

What happens if I don’t take long enough on the course?

If you complete the course in an unrealistic time (too quickly) or less than the minimum accepted time under the Awarding Body (see FAQ regarding this), we will have no alternative but to fail you. It is important that you treat this like you would any officially Approved course taught in a classroom environment. The fact that it is online is not reason to abuse the requirements. As stated in other FAQs, we do allow a slight variance in timings due to individual reading speeds.

I am an experienced mariner and/or an officer, does this make a difference?

No, we do not take into consideration your time served, nor your rank or position. This is an STCW ISPS Course, and there is an acceptable minimum time set by the relevant Awarding Body and Governing Bodies. If you abuse this, or do not meet with any of these requirements, you will fail the course regardless of the score achieved in the Assessment(s). You will be required to re-take the course and / or the associated assessments.

Is there an Official Assessment after the course?

On the Proficiency in Security Awareness (PSA) Course, we have a short Assessment after each of the three Learning Outcomes. You must achieve a minimum score of 70% per Assessment to enable you to move onto the next Learning Outcome. Your overall score is an average of the three scores you achieve on the three Assessments. Assessments consist of randomly selected multiple-choice questions and true or false response questions drawn from two question banks. Additional details on assessments are available in the FAQs section of this page. It is an ‘open book’ based assessment, and you are allowed to use any notes made, or the official course notes downloads available to you during the assessment to research the correct answers.

Can I use my notes during an Official Assessment?

This is an ‘open book’ type assessment, and it is permissible to use any notes made, or the official course notes downloads available to you during the assessment to research the correct response or responses.

Do I need to submit any documentation?

Yes, you are required to submit an official form of ID such as a scan of your valid Seaman’s Book, passport, driving licence, or other official photo ID. This is to ensure you are who you state yourself to be, and so we can use this ID to collect the relevant information that will populate your official course certificate. It is very easy to do and will only take you around five minutes to do. You must make sure that this was submitted when you are prompted. Failure to do so may result in you being failed if no ID was submitted and the assessment taken.

Do I need to attend a Test Centre to take my assessment?

No, the course is 100% online and you are required to adhere to the strict requirements outlined in the course explanation as well as any requests made of you during the course such as completing and submitting your online Learner Verification.

Do I need an Invigilator when taking my Official Assessment?

No, for the Security Awareness there is no requirement for an invigilator to be present. However, we do require [as covered] that you provide the correct information on the Online Learner Verification Form and submit the required form of photo ID. This is covered in detail on the course itself.

What happens if I fail an Assessment?

If you fail an Assessment, you may retake it again straight away, or whenever you wish within the 6-month licence applicable to your course [licences commence the day the course is purchased, not the date they are accessed].

How do I receive my certificate when I pass?

When you complete the course correctly and pass the Official Assessment, we will verify your time spent on the course, your submitted ID, and your Official Assessment. Once we are satisfied, we will email you a Certificate Details Form (as an editable PDF document), which you must complete in full, and accurately (as per the details provided on your official photo ID documentation). Upon receipt of this information, VIRSEC will use it to apply for your “Certificate of Training Recognition” which is proof of your attending a course and it is provided by the Liberian Registry (LISCR) online Portal. There is a standard minimum 5-day turnaround on this process, but it may be faster. Please Note: Under the Liberian Registry (LISCR), no-one can award an official course certificate as this can only be provided by a LISCR Office. You will then be required to apply to a LISCR Office to receive your official Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) or Certificate of Competency (CoC). Please Note: When you are trying to access your Certificate of Training from the Liberian Registry (LISCR) via the link sent to your email, make sure that you are doing this using a laptop, or desktop PC. If you try to download the certificate the first time and it fails due to the type of device you are using being incompatible (smart phone, tablet, etc), then LISCR will charge you $10 USD per retry thereafter. VIRSEC accepts no liability or responsibility for any costs applied by LISCR.

I have left it to the last minute to take my course and need my certificate out of hours, what happens next?

VIRSEC are not responsible for you leaving your course until the last minute, and you run the risk of not receiving your certificate in the time needed. Certificates take up to 48 hours during the working week to turn around and should this fall over a weekend or a Bank Holiday, you may not receive the certificate until the next working day. If you require your certificate to be expedited, you may request this from VIRSEC, but we are under absolutely no obligation to do this and there will be an additional charge applied.

Is VIRSEC open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for Support?

You are able to purchase courses and take them 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, as we are an online company, with access to both our e-Commerce website and Learning Management System [LMS]. However, the company is open during the hours listed on its website [0900 to 1700 hrs GMT/BST Monday to Thursday, 0900 to 1500 hrs Friday, Closed Saturday & Sunday and Bank Holidays]. Limited out of hours support is available for minor issues. However, major support issue requests may be made, but will be managed during these listed office hours when the technical team are available.

Is there an Online Chat Facility for Support Requests?

VIRSEC do have a Chat Facility on their website, and you may make a request for support. However, this is only manned during the hours listed on its website [0900 to 1700 hrs GMT/BST Monday to Thursday, 0900 to 1500 hrs Friday, Closed Saturday & Sunday and Bank Holidays]. Responses to comments or enquiries may take up to 24 hours, or until the next working day as detailed.