A firefighter using a red fire extinguisher to spray water on a large fire in the background.

MCA Approved – 1 Day Fire Safety

This 1-day course is designed to provide crew members with the essential knowledge and practical skills to prevent, combat, and extinguish fires on board small vessels. It is the appropriate level of training for vessels primarily using fire extinguishers and fixed engine room systems, rather than breathing apparatus.

Course includes a practical session using our Fire Training Simulator

This qualification is mandatory for many crew members working on small commercial vessels (under 24m), including workboats and pilot boats. It is specifically designed to meet the regulatory requirements for:

The Boatmasters’ Licence (BML):

  • Required for masters and crew operating on inland waterways and limited coastal areas.

The Workboat Code Edition 3:

  • Vessel <15m – Minimum one Crew member,
  • Vessel >15m – All crew members

Sport & Leisure Code:

  • Vessel <15m – Master or at least one crew member
  • Vessel >15m – Master and at least one crew member

MSN 1853 (M) Amendment 1: Boatmaster’s Qualifications, Crew and Hours of Work – Syllabus of Ancillary Safety Training

By the end of the course participants will be able to

  • Demonstrate a knowledge of the theory of combustion. 
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of types and sources of ignition likely to be encountered on vessels including:
    • classification of fires (A, B, C and D); 
    • correct extinguishing equipment and methods for each type. 
  • Demonstrate an awareness of flammable materials, fire hazards and the spread of fire on board including: 
    • The knowledge of best practice precautions arid the need for vigilance.
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of correct sequence for fire detection and raising the alarm (“FIRE”): find, inform, restrict and extinguish.
  • Demonstrates a knowledge of types of extinguishers including: 
    • Water
    • Dry powder
    • Foam
    • C02
    • Fire blanket
  • Describe how to extinguish fire including practical demonstration of the use of extinguishers.
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of correct location of fire-fighting equipment on a vessel. 
  • Additional elements for categories C and D, and adjacent coastal sea:
  • Demonstrates an awareness of types and use of fixed fire fighting installations on large vessels.
  • No prior experience is necessary

9am-5pm with approximately 45 mins for lunch

Minimum Duration: 1 day

Minimum Age 16

This course operates with a maximum of 8 students per instructor

Supporting Course notes are provided for this training