STCW PDSD Course; Is It Worth It?

STCW

September 30, 2024
5:19 am

Sea enthusiasts looking to start their dream career as a yachtie has to get some necessary certification such as STCW and ENG1 medical license.

Like the above-mentioned certification, PDSD course is also a very important certification for seafarers who have been designated a security duty on an authorized vessel. This important certification applies to all super yacht crew and should be done in place of the proficiency in security awareness (PSA) course.

PDSD stands for Proficiency in designated security duties, and it is a mandatory course for all seafarers working on maritime vessel that complies with ISPS (International ship and port facility).

Now let’s talk about how to get the PDSD course; its importance and use in this detailed guide catered for your interest.

What is PDSD course?

Proficiency in designated security duties (PDSD) is mandatory for any crew member with designated security duty on-board the vessel that comply with ISPS. PDSD course is approved by the UK Maritime and coastguard agency and is internationally recognized which adds to its authorization. It is a mandatory training prerequisite under STCW ISPS.

The PDSD course provides essential education and training needed for understanding and meeting the requirements set out by authorities for anyone with designated security duty. The course can be very useful and beneficial for trainee and will provide with necessary security knowledge needed for the ship.

The whole PDSD course will last for about 8 hours max and with our course, you can complete it any time according to your own ease. You can also complete the course from anywhere in the world through our online service and add this to your CV, giving your career more credibility.

Learning outcomes of the course

The Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) has established five learning outcomes for the course, where you will have to submit small pieces of coursework as well as sit through an examination to pass and achieve this certification.

The five learning outcomes of the PDSD course are

Understanding of why ship security is important and to have knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of the organizations and individuals involved.
Knowledge of what constitutes as risk, and threat to the ship, its personnel, cargo and operations and what to do about it.
To have knowledge about which equipment or security method can help or assist in this task and their limitations.
To know the proper and formal procedure involved and the process required.
Understanding of how to plan, prepare, monitor and execute security duties on-board a vessel.

Assessment of the PDSD course

After you have completed the five learning outcomes established by MNTB, you must complete an official assessment. It is required by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to have knowledge and understanding about the subject matter of the course. The assessment is comprised of true and false questions and multiple-choice questions that are randomly selected from large banks of questions.

To pass the assessment and achieve this certificate you need to attain minimum score of 70%. Passing the test will be easy if you have studied properly and from a good training center like ours.

We offer good and effective courses at reasonable price range for anyone looking to fulfill their dreams. Apart from the PDSD course we also offer deckhand training course and stewardess training course; both of which are really popular and good amongst the market.

Awarding Body

Proficiency in designated security duties (PDSD) is approved by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), and the certificate holds international recognition and is accepted internationally as well. The certificate is very valuable for seafarers especially crew members designated with security tasks.

What Qualification will you Receive?

The certification received is Proficiency in Designated Security Duties Reg VI/6 para 4 to 6 Section A-VI/6, para 6-8.

Perks of PDSD course

Like the other qualifications acquired for your sea career PDSD course will only help elevate your CV. With every passing year the risk of threats, piracy and other security hazards are increasing, because of which the need of qualified maritime security is also in demand, the job is not only for commercial vessels but also for port and private sector.

Completing the PDSD course will help the trainees to evaluate security plans and execute them at time of need, they will learn and understand the intricate security system of the ship and appreciate it. They can conduct risk assessments and implement quality and effective search procedures and security control. Furthermore, they will understand the rules and responsibilities of international and national requirement needed or expected from a ship security officer.

Apart from that, it can be beneficial to them in a long run, for example if they get offered a designated security job down the line, they can accept and ace it without needing to re do or upgrade their security training. This will only help them, and they will save cost, time and will be open to wider job market.

It is no surprise that landing a yacht job is difficult especially in this era where the sector is getting more and more competitive. Having said that, there are few things you can do to earn an edge over your competition, one of which is doing additional courses related to your role to help your case. You can do PDSD course which will give you an edge over your competitors and some other related courses.

We offer many courses from which you can choose to match your profile.

Conclusion

After listing all the benefits and the procedure, its fair to say that PDSD course is worth your time and will help you in your career as well. The procedure is also very easy to complete, especially if you completed it from a good institution like ours. The certification along with your enthusiasm will help you land your dream job and will also help you to excel in it and make a name for yourself in the sea world.

Hope this guide helps and elevates you to start your yachtie career.

Get ready for smooth sailing with Yachticareers!

Yachticareers offers so many different courses related to deckhand and stewardess that is truly going to set you apart from the rest. Start your journey with these courses for a smooth entry onboard.