PSCRB Training

What is PSCRB?

PSCRB stands for Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boat. At this training, we learned about Safety Guide Lines, Ship Emergencies, Abandoning the Ship, Personal Lifesaving Appliances, Rescue Operation, Life Boats, Life Boat Launching Devices / Appliances, Life Rafts, Location Aids, Signals and Signs in an Emergency.

There are lots of topics covers on this training, about 10. These are the topics I’ve mentioned above. But, are these topics all been tackled during the whole training session? Yes, but as what I had recalled was that some of the topics were not teach thoroughly, that’s what I think on my part. Maybe it’s because of the type of instructor. The teaching, I think really depends on the kind of teacher or instructor, on how he/she best delivers the topics.

My Instructor

Maybe, I was not lucky at that time to not been assigned to a good instructor. Our teacher at that time was boring. Sorry sir ??, but at that time, I see him doing not so good and not able to dig a certain topic to a point that none-marine course graduate trainees can understand. He was just too boring teacher (for me.)

The Training Sessions

The lecture session of this training took 3 days to finish and about 5-6 hours lecture each day. On the fourth day is the practicum day in which all trainees including that of other sections in the same batch will be doing the actual exercises about PSCRB. This is where the fun and excitement on what we will be encountering at time when we’re on board the ship.

After all, this training is just a little background on all trainees who are planning to go on board a ship. But, also it is important to not just take this training on an easy way. Who knows, one day when you’re on board and encounter the actual situation and you don’t know what to do just because during the training you did not give much attention on what the trainers are teaching. The important thing is that after you finished the training course, you can consider yourself as competent. If we have the knowledge on the topics, understand what we’ve learned, and apply what we have acquired at lecture sessions, then we can consider ourselves a competent one.

Competent = Knowledge + Understanding + Practical

This training is really about SURVIVAL where seafarer struggles to stay alive in time of emergency and when life is threatened on board a ship.

My Basic Safety Course or BSC/PSSR

Mabuhay!!!

The Basic Seaman's Course

BST or basic seaman's course is the first program for any Filipino, man or woman, who wanted to work in a ship abroad. I enrolled this course at Far East Maritime Foundation, Inc. This is not the first time that I'd to take this course because 2002, I have had taken this course already during the time of my first interest in working in cruise ships.

What is this BST?

This is an eight-day course consisting of four different modules.

1. Elementary First Aid - the trainee should be able learn how to take immediate action upon encountering an accident or medical emergency on board.
2. Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting - trainee will have the knowledge about fire prevention. He is able to take appropriate measures for the safety of all crew and of the ship.
3. Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities - trainee will be able to know about marine pollution which is prevention of pollution in maritime environment and about effective human relationship on board.
4. Proficiency in Personal Survival Technique - Trainee will be able to react in a correct manner during emergency situations. Be able to use survival equipment correctly for his survival and to the survival of other crew and passengers.

The whole period of the course was full of fun. Our batch mates consist of professionals from many fields. Some are ex-abroad and I think there are eight of them, mostly from the Middle East working in hotels and restaurants. Some also are in the field not really related to maritime work including me.

What is important in this training is that we the trainees should be able to perform what we've learned during the training period, I hope so. What the ex-crews are saying is that the situation when your on ship already is very different, but at the least we have already the knowledge and skills we can apply on board.

Huh! Ang hirap mag-ingles. Ngunit susubukan kong sa ingles ang aking mga ilalathala dito.

Maraming salamat sa lahat ng makakabasa sa unang artikulo kong ito.

Kung mayroon kayong nais sasabihin (maganda man o hindi) ay huwag mag-atubiling magkumento sa aking mga inilathalang mga artikulo.