SOLAS or Basic Training in 2026: Age Requirements, Course Content and the Right Certificate

Updated October 9, 2026 · Philippines

If you are planning to take what many applicants call “SOLAS training,” check which Basic Training (BT) course you need before paying. The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has revised the Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR) component, and its Advisory 2025-40A, dated January 6, 2026, explains the different routes for existing certificate holders and people who trained but have not yet applied for certification. Read the signed MARINA clarification.

The change follows amendments to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Code that took effect on January 1, 2026. The new content covers preventing and responding to violence and harassment, including bullying, sexual harassment and sexual assault. Safety training now includes how people treat and protect one another aboard ship. IMO’s explanation.

What do you learn in Basic Training?

SOLAS means Safety of Life at Sea, the name of an international convention. When enrolling, use the actual course name, Basic Training, so you and the training center are discussing the same qualification.

BT has four components:

• Personal Survival Techniques: surviving a ship-abandonment emergency.
• Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting: reducing fire risks and responding to fires.
• Elementary First Aid: taking immediate action in an accident or medical emergency.
• Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities: emergency procedures, safe work, communication, pollution prevention, fatigue and respectful conduct.

MARINA publishes the component standards under SC-2022-05. Its revised PSSR framework specifies 24 hours for that component; that is not the duration of the entire BT course. Ask the center for the full timetable, practical exercises, assessment arrangements and total price. Official training standards and revised PSSR package.

Which course applies to your situation?

The January 2026 clarification provides these routes:

Source: signed Advisory 2025-40A. The advisory uses “more than” and “less than” two years. If your application falls exactly on the two-year anniversary, ask MARINA to confirm the applicable route.

Hypothetical example: You took BT in December 2025 but apply for your first COP in October 2026. Your training is less than two years old, so the clarification points you toward the PSSR updating course. Tell the center that you have no COP yet, and confirm the remaining application requirements with MARINA before enrolling.

Is there an age limit for “SOLAS” training?

The reviewed MARINA survival, first-aid, fire-fighting and revised PSSR frameworks describe entry in terms of medical fitness to participate in the training, including practical exercises. They do not state a blanket upper age limit. That does not establish eligibility for every shipboard job. Ask your chosen approved center to confirm its admission rules for your age and circumstances. MARINA’s course frameworks.

Employment requirements must be checked separately. For example, Royal Caribbean Group states a minimum age of 18, or 21 for beverage-serving positions, plus English, passport and role-specific requirements. Those are that employer’s requirements, not a universal BT admission rule. Royal Caribbean’s applicant guidance.

Before enrolling

1. Check whether you have a training completion certificate, a valid COP, an expired COP, or no COP. Write down the relevant dates.
2. Confirm the required course with MARINA and the training center. Check approval for the specific course and training site. MARINA’s September 30, 2025 guidance requires approval for the revised course and separate approval for the updating course. MARINA technical guidance.
3. Ask for the medical admission requirements, complete timetable and itemized charges before arranging travel.
4. After training, complete the applicable MARINA certification process. A training-center completion certificate and a MARINA COP are separate documents.

What this means for you

My advice is to check your certificate status before buying a training package. The correct route can affect how much time you need away from home and what you should budget for travel and accommodation. A lower advertised price is useful only if the course meets your actual requirement.

I also consider the stronger emphasis on respectful conduct a useful part of preparation for life at sea. Learning how to respond to harassment belongs alongside practical emergency skills. Treat training as preparation for the work, and plan certification and job applications as separate steps.

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