STCW Course & Crew Services

STCW Basic Safety Training — at the real course price, not the bundle price.

Independent advice on the STCW course, STCW certificate validity, and every other certification you actually need to start working on yachts — booked directly with accredited schools in Antibes, Palma, the UK, and South Africa (Cape Town & Durban). No agency commission, no padded packages.

STCW Course & Basic Safety Training

The STCW Basic Safety Training (STCW 95 / 2010) is the mandatory 5-day certificate every yacht crew member needs — Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention & Fighting, Elementary First Aid, and Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities. We book you the lowest standalone STCW course price in Antibes, Palma, the UK, or South Africa (typically €850–€1,150, and from ~R12,000 in Cape Town / Durban) instead of a €1,800+ 'crew starter bundle'. STCW certificate is valid 5 years; we also handle the STCW Refresher when it expires.

Visa Assistance

Expert support for B1/B2, C1/D seafarer visas, and Schengen applications. We help you prepare paperwork, secure appointments, and avoid the common timing mistakes that delay seasons.

Yacht CV Setup

Industry-standard formatting, headshots advice, references, and content strategy. Designed to pass through agency filters and land on the captain's desk.

Crew Guidance

1-on-1 career mapping. We help you choose between deck, interior, engineering or galley based on your background, lifestyle, and earning goals. We also guide parents helping their children break into the industry — clear, honest advice with no pushy sales calls.

Job Preparation

Interview coaching, dockwalking strategy, agency introductions, and onboarding support across Antibes, Palma, Antigua, and Fort Lauderdale.

Budget Planning for New Crew

A realistic financial plan for your first season — courses, travel, accommodation, and contingency. Avoid the common mistakes that drain savings before payday.

The Smart Route

Save an average of €600 on initial training.

Most agencies push expensive all-in-one packages stuffed with modules you don't actually need. We help yacht crew save money by finding the best available individual course prices — so you only pay for what gets you hired.

Independent provider sourcing

We receive no commissions from training centres.

Direct-to-school pricing

Pay providers directly with zero agency markup.

Tailored to your career path

No filler courses — only what your role requires.

STCW course questions, answered honestly

How much does an STCW course cost?

A standalone STCW Basic Safety Training course costs roughly €850–€1,150 in the Mediterranean, £650–£950 in the UK, and from around R12,000 (≈€600) at MCA-approved schools in Cape Town and Durban — by far the cheapest option for South African crew. "Crew starter bundles" sold by some schools push the same course to €1,800+ by adding ENG1, Powerboat 2, and Food & Hygiene at marked-up rates. We book each component separately at the cheapest accredited provider.

How long is the STCW course?

Five consecutive days of in-person training. The four modules — Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention & Fighting, Elementary First Aid, and Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities — must all be completed in person. There is no fully online STCW Basic Safety Training; anyone selling one is not STCW-compliant.

How long is the STCW certificate valid?

The STCW certificate is valid for 5 years. After that you need the 2-day STCW Refresher (often called STCW Updating) covering Fire Fighting and Personal Survival Techniques. We schedule refreshers around your season so you don't lose work time.

Where should I do my STCW course?

Antibes and Palma are cheapest if you're already job-hunting on the dock — you save on flights and start dockwalking the day after the course. The UK is cheaper on tuition alone but rarely worth it once you add travel and accommodation. South Africa (Cape Town and Durban) is the lowest-cost option overall and ideal for South African crew certifying before flying to the Med — we work with MCA-approved schools there directly. We compare all four and book the option that lands you on a boat fastest.

Not sure which pathway you need?

Book a consultation call and we'll recommend the most strategic steps for your career progression.

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