Familiarisation training

Familiarization training is the mandatory shipboard induction every seafarer must complete before being assigned duties, ensuring they can find and use lifesaving and firefighting equipment, understand muster and emergency signals, and know their muster-list station. STCW Regulation I/14 and Section A-I/14 require the company to give each newly joined seafarer this familiarization so they can perform safety functions from the start, and to confirm it is documented. The ISM Code Element 6 reinforces it by requiring procedures for new personnel to become acquainted with their duties before sailing. The master records completion, and an unfamiliarized crew member found at a port state control or vetting inspection is a deficiency, since the muster cannot be considered effective.