Understanding IMO Model Course 1.19: Proficiency in Personal Survival Techniques
IMO Model Course 1.19 is a mandatory training standard designed to equip every prospective seafarer with the essential skills to survive at sea following a ship abandonment. Based on the STCW Code (Table A-VI/1-1), this course is a pillar of basic safety training for anyone working on a vessel. Key Objectives and Skills
The primary goal of the course is to ensure that, in an emergency, a trainee can effectively use available life-saving appliances to preserve their life and the lives of others. Key practical outcomes include:
Donning Safety Gear: Correctly putting on lifejackets and immersion suits. Water Entry: Safely jumping from a height into the water.
Survival Maneuvers: Swimming while wearing a lifejacket, righting an inverted liferaft, and boarding survival craft from the water.
Equipment Operation: Using location devices (EPIRBs, SARTs), signaling mirrors, and pyrotechnics.
Initial Actions: Taking critical steps immediately after boarding a craft to increase the chances of survival and detection. Course Framework and Content imo model course 1.19 pdf
The course syllabus typically covers eight chapters, ranging from theoretical principles to hands-on drills:
Safety Guidance & Introduction: Basic principles and types of life-saving appliances.
Emergency Situations: Understanding muster lists and emergency signals.
Evacuation Procedures: Preparing for abandonment and preventing panic.
Survival Craft & Rescue Boats: Familiarization with lifeboats and liferafts.
Personal Life-Saving Appliances: Detailed use of lifebuoys, lifejackets, and thermal protective aids. Understanding IMO Model Course 1
Survival Techniques: Methods to prevent hypothermia (e.g., the H.E.L.P. position) and managing rations.
Emergency Radio Equipment: Operating EPIRBs and hand-held radios.
Post-Rescue Actions: Health and hygiene considerations after being picked up. Who Needs This Training?
This course is compulsory for all seafarers, offshore oil and gas personnel, and maritime trainees joining a ship for the first time. There are no strict educational prerequisites, but candidates must be certified as medically fit to participate in the physical drills. How to Access the IMO Model Course 1.19 PDF
While "IMO Model Course 1.19 PDF" is a frequent search term, the official document is a copyrighted publication of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Model Course 1.19 Personal Survival Techniques | PDF - Scribd Course Objectives The central aim of Model Course 1
15 Jul 2015 — successfully completing this course will gain knowledge and skills to be able to survive at sea. in the event of ship abandonment.
Model Course 1.19: Proficiency In Personal Survival Techniques
The central aim of Model Course 1.19 is to provide seafarers with the essential education and training to take immediate action upon encountering a maritime emergency. By the end of the course, trainees should be able to:
The IMO revises model courses on a rolling basis. Course 1.19 was last substantially updated in 2016 (post-Manila). A minor editorial revision occurred in 2019. Always check the publication date on the title page.
In the demanding world of maritime operations, survival at sea is not just about luck—it is a science. Recognizing this, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) developed a series of training benchmarks to ensure that seafarers are equipped with the skills to save lives when disaster strikes. Among these, IMO Model Course 1.19 stands as a cornerstone document for basic safety training.
For maritime academies, ship owners, and cadets worldwide, the search term "IMO Model Course 1.19 PDF" is consistently high—and for good reason. This document provides the blueprint for teaching Proficiency in Personal Survival Techniques, a mandatory component of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Basic Safety Training.
This article dives deep into everything you need to know about IMO Model Course 1.19: what it contains, why the PDF format is essential, how it aligns with STCW 2010 (Manila Amendments), and where its value lies in modern maritime safety.