Shipboard Safety Skill Set
MARSS00008
Nationally accredited
qualification
3 days
Practical
workshops
UQ St Lucia
Gain the skills and knowledge to work safely on board a vessel.
This nationally accredited training is a requirement for anyone seeking to work on commercial vessels in domestic waters.
You’ll cover a series of on-board emergency situations and in-water sea survival skills, including abandon ship scenarios requiring the deployment of a life raft.
Learn how to safely don a life jacket, use an EPIRB and fire extinguisher, perform safety equipment checks, crew drills, and the basics of line handling.
How you'll learn
This program is delivered over 3 days of in-person practical training.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a variety of methods, including written exams and reports, oral assessments and practical demonstrations.
Start date
6 February
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
As a safety consideration, it's recommended all students be physically fit to carry out all the roles and responsibilities of a Coxswain on a commercial vessel under 12m within 15nm of the coastline with a propulsion power of up to 500kW for inboard engines and unlimited for outboard engines as defined in Marine Order 505.
Students should also be able to swim (any stroke) a minimum of 25 metres fully clothed.
All UQ Skills programs require access to a computer with a Windows operating system, up-to-date versions of Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Reader, and a reliable internet connection.
Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) testing
You’re required to complete a language, literacy and numeracy test as part of the enrolment process. This helps us identify and plan for any learning or support needs you may have before you start your training.
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you have recent work experience you may be eligible to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning.
Create your USI
You must provide a Unique Student Identifier (USI) before we can accept your enrolment.
Resources
2025 UQ Skills Student Handbook (PDF, 2.5 MB) (includes student support and guidance on fees, withdrawal and other policy information).
Full fee: $670
In order to gain this qualification you’ll need to successfully complete the following 4 units:
| Course | Course code |
|---|---|
| Apply basic survival skills in the event of vessel abandonment | MARF027 |
| Follow procedures to minimise and fight fires on board a vessel | MARF028 |
| Meet work health and safety requirements | MARF029 |
| Survive at sea using survival craft | MARF030 |
Careers
You may find employment in the following roles:
- coxswain
- deckhand
- linesperson.
Disclaimer
Details are correct at the time of upload and are subject to change. UQ Skills reserves the right to change programs, subjects or costs or to cancel a program based on consideration of student numbers and resource allocation. Ensure that you understand the program, subjects, associated costs and fee liability prior to signing an enrolment form.
