STCW Ship Security Officer (SSO) Course for Passenger Vessels

Online MCA Approved Maritime Security (ISPS) Course for Ship Security Officers of Passenger Vessels (IMO 3.19)

The online, STCW Proficiency as Ship Security Officer (SSO) Course is for those seafarers aspiring to fulfil the role of Ship Security Officer under the requirements of the International Ship & Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and the UK DfT Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA).

About the Course

The online UK DfT Maritime & Coastguard Agency (STCW ISPS) Proficiency as Ship Security Officer (SSO) Course for Passenger Vessels is a training prerequisite under STCW for those members of a Passenger vessel’s Crew who wish to fulfil the duties of the Ship Security Officer, managing onboard security, liaising with port authorities, coordinating training and drills, and ensuring compliance with the relevant regulations. VIRSEC also offers tailored versions of the Ship Security Officer (SSO) Course tailored for Merchant Vessels and Luxury Yachts.

The Aim of the Course

Ship Security Officer (SSO) courses aim to provide relevant personnel seeking a certificate of proficiency as a Ship Security Officer with the mandatory training meeting with the Knowledge, Understanding and Proficiency requirements as detailed in STCW Table A-VI/5, which supports Chapter XI-2 of the annex to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974, as amended, as well as the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

Awarding Body

The online (STCW ISPS) Proficiency as Ship Security Officer (SSO) Course for Passenger Vessels is fully Approved under the UK DfT Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), holding international recognition. It encompasses the 2010 Manila Amendments and aligns with the requirements of Section A-VI/5, paragraphs 1 to 4 of the STCW Convention and Code, while considering the guidance provided in Section B-VI/5 of the Code, and Table A-VI/5.

Course Outcomes

There are six Course Outcomes:

The learner understands the importance of ship security and the roles and responsibilities of organisations and individuals involved in it.
The learner knows how to assess security risk, threat and vulnerability to the ship, its personnel, cargo and operations.
The learner understands the capabilities and limitations of security methods, equipment and systems.
The learner knows how to implement a ship security plan and related regulatory requirements.
The learner knows how to determine the effectiveness of current security arrangements, procedures and equipment.
The learner understands how to promote security awareness and vigilance on board ship.

Course Duration

The online (STCW ISPS) Proficiency as Ship Security Officer (SSO) Course for Passenger Vessels takes 21 hours, with slight flexibility for reading speed. Completion requires meeting the minimum time and passing the official assessment, as mandated by the MCA. Please Note: Under the guidelines provided by the MCA, learners must not exceed an 8-hour learning day, which would be a 10-hour day if incorporating breaks as well.

Prerequisites

To meet the UK Department for Transport Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) requirements, participants must have at least 12 months of sea service, or, with MCA support, a minimum of 3 months of suitable sea service combined with a solid understanding of ship operations. These prerequisites ensure you’re fully prepared to get the most from your training and excel as a Ship Security Officer. By enrolling, you confirm that you meet these minimum entry requirements.

Target Audience

The Ship Security Officer (SSO) Course is designed for passenger vessel crew members, typically officers; ready to take on the critical responsibility of safeguarding their ship. As an SSO, you’ll work hand-in-hand with the Company Security Officer (CSO) and the Ship’s Master to oversee and manage all aspects of onboard security. From protecting the vessel and its passengers to ensuring a safe, compliant, and secure environment, this course prepares you to be the trusted guardian of your vessels safety at sea.

Assessment

AI Proctored Assessment

Following new mandatory MCA requirements and in accordance with MSN 1865(M), all online course 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.

SSO Workbook

Under these new MCA requirements, course candidates will also be required to complete a Ship Security Officer Workbook comprising of several small exercises, to be witnessed by the existing SSO, or by a Senior Officer. Once these have been successfully completed and submitted to VIRSEC, we will award your official certificate.

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 SSO Course receive a different certificate?

No, all of our Proficiency as Ship Security Officer (SSO) Courses consist of the same mandatory content as per the STCW requirements. We have simply tailored the versions of the PDSD 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 as Ship Security Officer (SSO) 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 Ship Security Officer is a 21-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 as Ship Security Officer (SSO) Course includes an assessment after the six 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 page using the navigation menu at the top of the page 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 free of charge for SSO Course candidates. You will be offered this option when you have been awarded the PDF formatted version of your official certificate.

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.