If you are new to cruising, this is a reminder of some non negotiable requirements for onboard crew members.
1) Criminal record background check (city/province-state/country)
2) STCW-95 Safety Certification
It is the requirement of international maritime law, that cruise members be safety certified. The certifiation is called STCW-95. It may be called something different in other countries, but the requirements will be the same. You may not be permitted onboard until you ahve copmpleted this standard safety certification requirement. Here is the information website - www.stcw.org. The cost can cary depending where you take the training.
*Note: some cruislines may still offer it onboard.
Here is where I took my training in Florida:
www.mptusa.com/courses/stcw_95_basic_safety_training.html
STCW '95 Basic Safety Training
The certification includes theory and practical hands-on training and assessment for the following Four modules of STCW A-VI/1-1 to 1-4. These courses are approved to satisfy the requirements for Basic Safety Training on all size vessel. There are no tonnage limits. It is appropriate for all crew members. It includes:
Personal Survival Techniques
Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities
Basic Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting
Elementary First Aid
Lifecraft Training
Training will include:
Fire Prevention
Fire fighting Techniques
Compliance with Emergency Procedures
Safe Working Practices
Preventing Marine Pollution/MARPOL
Effective Shipboard Communications
Emergency Equipment
Hypothermia
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
First Aid
Proper use of:
Personal Flotation Devices
Immersion Suits
Liferafts
Abandon Ship Procedures & Equipment
*Most positions within the Youth /Teen Programs, may require advanced first aid and child care safety training or experience.
Contact any Coast Guard office to find out the procedure/location/school for obtaining the STCW-95
For more details about the STCW-95, follow this link.
http://www.mptusa.com/stcw/index.html#dont_look_the_same
Also, if you know how to swim...its a bonus!
The other area of concern onboard a ship is maintaining strict adherence to USPH, United States Public Health Vessel Sanitaion Program. If you are in the hotel department,you will be advised of this very important public health inpsection process, which can determine if a ship can sail or not. You will be advised of your roll, once you are on the ship.
What is the USPH - CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program and How Does it Apply to Cruise Ships?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is given the authority to run the Vessel Sanitation Program in the federal Public Health Service Act. The purpose of the Vessel Sanitation Program is to decrease the outbreak of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships. In order to accomplish this goal, the CDC inspects cruise ships, trains cruise ship employees and monitors outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses. Typically, ships are subject to two unannounced inspections each year. At each inspection, the ship is given a grade on a 100 point scale. Anything below 85 is considered failing. Ships that fail an inspection are always reinspected and may not be allowed to sail if there is an imminent threat to public safety. Inspection reports and scores are available to the public on the CDC website and are useful to future cruise ship crew (and passengers).
www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/desc/aboutvsp.htm#insp
wwwn.cdc.gov/InspectionQueryTool/Forms/InspectionSearch.aspx
