STCW Security Awareness (PSA) Course for Merchant Vessels

Online MCA Approved Maritime Security (ISPS) Course for Crew & Staff of Merchant Vessels, Offshore Mobile Drilling Platforms, Wind Farms & Ferries Without Security-Related Duties (IMO 3.27)

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Course Brochure

Under the ISPS Code, all vessel crew and staff must have a minimum level of security awareness as outlined in the Ship Security Plan. This awareness-only course is designed for personnel without security-related duties, ensuring they understand the importance and implementation of onboard security measures.

About the Course

Our online, MCA Approved STCW Security Awareness (PSA) Course for Merchant Vessels meets STCW training requirements for crew and staff without designated security duties. It is tailored for personnel on Merchant Vessels, Offshore Platforms, Wind Farms, and Ferries, with specialised versions also available for the Luxury Yachts and Cruise Ships sectors.

The Aim of the Course

To Provide essential security awareness training for onboard personnel without designated security duties, fulfilling the Knowledge, Understanding, and Proficiency (KUP) requirements of Table A-VI/6-1 under SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code. All seafarers on ISPS-compliant ships must complete this training.

Awarding Body

The online STCW Security Awareness (PSA) Course for Merchant Vessels is MCA Approved, internationally recognised, and compliant with the 2010 Manila Amendments, STCW Section A-VI/6.4, and Table A-VI/6-1.

Course Outcomes

The online Proficiency in Security Awareness (PSA) Course Approved by the UK DfT MCA aligns with the following Course Outcomes.

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 Duration

The online STCW Security Awareness (PSA) Course for Merchant Vessels takes 4 hours, with slight flexibility for reading speed. Completion requires meeting the minimum time and passing the official assessments, as mandated by the MCA.

Prerequisites of Taking the Online Course

There are no pre-requisites for attending this online course.

Target Audience

The ISPS Security Awareness Course is designed for all shipboard, port facility, and shore-based personnel who do not have specific security duties but must understand and contribute to maritime security under the ISPS Code.

Assessment

Following new mandatory MCA requirements, all online assessments must now be invigilated via an approved online proctoring system. VIRSEC makes this very easy by providing free invigilation for all customers; no need to visit a test centre or ask senior officers to supervise. Please refer to our AI Proctored Assessment FAQs area for more detailed information on the AI Proctored Assessments.

Purchasing This Course

You can purchase this course directly from this web page. For bulk purchase requirements, VIRSEC offers scalable bulk discounts on our courses for teams of any size. Larger groups receive greater savings. To discuss your requirements and get a personalised quote, contact our training team at training@virsec.org or call +44 (0)161 763 4427.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Does this version of the MCA Approved PSA Course receive a different certificate?

No, all of our Proficiency in Security Awareness (PSA) Courses consist of the same mandatory content as per the STCW requirements. We have simply tailored the versions of the PSA to provide the learner with a ‘familiar environment’ by tailoring the backgrounds and characters (crew, staff, etc) to fit with the specific vessel type (Yacht, Cargo, Cruise Ship). The actual official certificate is exactly the same mandatory wording incorporated in the course materials.

Is this course Approved by a Flag State?

Yes, the fully online Proficiency in Security Awareness or PSA Course, is fully Approved under the UK Department for Transport, Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). 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).

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. We have to date provided our courses into 136 countries worldwide. It is always advisable to check with your company / vessel before undertaking the course to make sure there are no other internal / local stipulations.

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. If you take longer than the 6 month period, we provide the option to extend the course, but there is a small charge for course extensions.

Do I need to take notes on the course?

No, 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. There is functionality in the course itself to make your own notes that you can email to yourself, but this is not required if course notes are included.

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 allow a slight variation in timings due to individual reading speeds, but we will fail you if you exceed the allowed variance. Simply passing the assessment is not sufficient. Both the minimum required learning time and satisfactory assessment score are required to successfully complete this course. Please 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.

Is the course timed, and is a timer available to view?

As there is no timer function on the course itself due to the ability to exit and enter at will, you must ensure that you track your own time, so you know that you are spending sufficient time on the course. VIRSEC report on the total time spent on the course via the LMS reporting system. This will be used to determine from their side how much time you have spent on the course.

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

You can pause the course anytime, and regular breaks are encouraged. For longer breaks, please log out, your progress will be saved, and you can resume where you left off. Leaving the course open during an extended break will result in loss of progress.

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

Completing the course too quickly or below the minimum required time will result in failure. Treat this online course as you would a classroom-based approved course. A slight timing variance is allowed for individual reading speeds.

I am an experienced mariner and/or an officer, does this make a difference in the time I take to complete the course?

No prior service, rank, or position affects course requirements. This STCW ISPS course has a minimum time set by the Awarding and Governing Bodies. Failing to meet these requirements will result in course failure, regardless of assessment scores, and you will need to retake the course and/or assessments.

Is there an Official Assessment after the course?

The Proficiency in Security Awareness (PSA) Course includes an assessment after the three Learning Outcomes. You must score at least 70% to pass. The proctored assessment uses AI and features randomly selected multiple-choice and true/false questions from two question banks. It is open book, allowing the use of your notes and official course materials. Please refer to our detailed FAQs for more detailed information on the AI Proctored Assessments.

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

No, the course and assessment are entirely online. You must follow all course requirements, including submitting your Learner Verification and completing the online proctored assessment.

How do I receive my certificate when I pass?

When you complete the course correctly and pass the Official Proctored Assessment, we will verify your time spent on the course, your submitted ID, and your Official Proctored Assessment feedback. Once we are satisfied, we will email you a secure PDF of your certificate that you must print off and sign. These PDFs are security encrypted to prevent any tampering with information placed on them, and so you must print them off to sign with as black pen.

Do you provide a hard copy version of the course certificate?

Yes, we provide a hard copy version of the certificate, but there is an additional charge for this.

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

If you leave your course to the last minute, VIRSEC cannot guarantee same-day certificate issuance. Certificates typically take up to 48 hours on working days, and requests over weekends or Bank Holidays will be processed the next working day. Expedited certificates may be requested for an additional fee but are not guaranteed.

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

You can purchase and take our courses anytime; 24/7, 365 days a year through our e-commerce site. Our team operates during office hours (Mon to Thu 0900-1700 GMT/BST, Fri 0900-1500; closed weekends & Bank Holidays). Limited out-of-hours support is available for minor issues, while major technical requests will be handled during office hours.

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.