Short course300 h · Online · 5 modules

Rapid Vessel Evacuation Course

This course prepares you to act efficiently and safely when a vessel has to be evacuated. You will learn how to assess the situation and organize the initial response, how liferafts, rescue boats, launching systems and locating devices work and where they fail, how to move passengers and crew to muster stations, count them and board them safely, and how to adapt the evacuation to fire, flooding, heavy weather, darkness and people who need assistance, in line with the international SOLAS and STCW framework.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules5
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About the program

What is the Rapid Vessel Evacuation Course?

This short course covers the rapid evacuation of vessels from the first alarm to separation from the ship. You will study the objectives of rapid evacuation and the emergencies that lead to it, the factors that condition an effective evacuation, the chain of command and the rapid assessment of stability and time available, life-saving appliances such as liferafts, rescue boats, lifejackets, immersion suits and lifebuoys, davits and automatic and manual release systems, EPIRB, SART, flares and portable radios, inspection of abandonment equipment, alarms and muster stations, flow control and headcounts, safe boarding of survival craft, alternative escape routes and evacuation in fire, progressive flooding, heavy seas and low visibility.

What sets this course apart: it focuses on the minutes that decide the outcome, with clear decision criteria about when and from which side to abandon ship, how to keep order and how to deal with blocked routes; it gives specific attention to injured, unconscious and reduced-mobility occupants; and it closes with an applied final project in which you design a rapid evacuation plan for a specific vessel, simulate it and evaluate the response.

Program typeShort course
ModeOnline
Duration300 hours
Modules5
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Initial response: chain of command, alarm, role allocation and rapid situation assessment.
  • Life-saving appliances: liferafts, rescue boats, lifejackets, immersion suits and lifebuoys.
  • Launching and locating: davits, release systems, EPIRB, SART, flares and portable radios.
  • People management: muster stations, headcounts, flow control and safe boarding.
  • Adverse conditions: fire, flooding, heavy seas, darkness and occupants needing assistance.
  • Applied project: evacuation plan for a real vessel, with simulation and evaluation.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Rapid Vessel Evacuation Course

5 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Fundamentals of maritime evacuation, risk factors and initial organization of the response when abandoning a vessel

  • 1.1. Concept and objectives of rapid evacuation from vessels: preserving life, reducing exposure time and controlling operational chaos
  • 1.2. Types of emergency that may lead to evacuation: fire, collision, grounding, water ingress, critical heel, structural failure and risk of sinking
  • 1.3. Factors that condition an effective evacuation: size of the vessel, number of people on board, weather, sea state and accessibility of exit routes
  • 1.4. Initial organization of the response: chain of command, activation of the alarm, allocation of roles and coordination of the crew
  • 1.5. Rapid assessment of the situation before abandoning: stability of the vessel, spread of the hazard, time available and decision priorities
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Equipment, life-saving appliances and abandonment systems used in rapid vessel evacuation

  • 2.1. Types of life-saving appliances: liferafts, rescue boats, lifejackets, lifebuoys, immersion suits and personal flotation devices
  • 2.2. Lowering, launching and deployment systems: davits, automatic systems, manual release and safe sequences
  • 2.3. Signaling and locating equipment for post-evacuation survival: EPIRB, SART, flares, emergency lights and portable radios
  • 2.4. Inspection and operational checking of abandonment equipment: accessibility, stowage, signage, maintenance and immediate availability
  • 2.5. Technical and operational limitations of evacuation systems: heel, fire, flooding, obstructions, mechanical failure and extreme environmental conditions
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Evacuation procedures, control of people and management of exit flows in high-pressure scenarios on board

  • 3.1. Activation of the abandon-ship procedure: alarms, internal messages, initial instructions and orderly movement to muster stations
  • 3.2. Organizing and guiding passengers or crew along escape routes: signage, priorities, assistance to vulnerable people and flow control
  • 3.3. Management of muster stations and headcounts: lists, attendance checks, distribution of lifejackets and preparation for boarding survival craft
  • 3.4. Techniques for fast and safe boarding of liferafts or lifeboats: sequence, balance, weight, access times and prevention of accidents during abandonment
  • 3.5. Alternative evacuation procedures when main routes are blocked or compromised by fire, smoke, water or structural damage
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Evacuation in adverse conditions: fire, sinking, heavy weather, low visibility and unconventional scenarios

  • 4.1. Evacuation strategies for fires on board: isolation of zones, smoke-free routes, exit priorities and protection from heat and gases
  • 4.2. Evacuation procedures with water ingress or progressive sinking: control of the time available, stability of the vessel and choice of the side for abandonment
  • 4.3. Evacuation in heavy seas, strong wind and severe swell: risk of falls, launching times and immediate survival maneuvers
  • 4.4. Managing evacuation at night or in low visibility: emergency lighting, signage, communication and keeping people grouped
  • 4.5. Scenarios with injured, unconscious or reduced-mobility people: basic assistance techniques, transfer and prioritization during abandonment
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Final project: rapid vessel evacuation with procedure design, operational simulation and evaluation of the response

  • 5.1. Definition of the case study: type of vessel, number of people on board, risk profile and selected emergency scenario
  • 5.2. Design of the rapid evacuation plan: command structure, escape routes, muster stations, abandonment equipment and operational sequence
  • 5.3. Preparation of protocols for communication, control of people and assistance to occupants with special needs during the evacuation
  • 5.4. Simulation of the emergency and abandonment: activation of the alarm, mobilization, boarding of survival craft and separation from the vessel
  • 5.5. Evaluation of evacuation performance: response times, safety, effectiveness of people control and opportunities to improve the procedure
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Rapid Vessel Evacuation Course

It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
6
months to finish
25 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Rapid Vessel Evacuation Course

01Safeguard the survival of everyone on board by continuously monitoring the condition of the vessel, crew and cargo and acting early on any abnormal situation.
02Minimize panic and keep order by communicating calmly and clearly and conveying confidence to crew and passengers.
03Use life-saving appliances effectively, knowing their capabilities and limitations, carrying out basic checks and applying the correct emergency procedures.
04Communicate emergency procedures clearly with concise instructions on evacuation, firefighting, abandoning ship and first aid that crew and passengers understand.
05Coordinate the allocation of roles and responsibilities with clear communication channels and reporting protocols, checking that each assignment has been understood.
06Assess and control the risks of evacuation, identifying fire, flooding and structural hazards and applying preventive and mitigating measures that consider human and environmental factors.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Rapid Vessel Evacuation Course

01Rescue craft crewspecialization in the safe and rapid evacuation of passengers and crew.
02Maritime safety officerplanning and running evacuation drills on board.
03Member of emergency response teamsparticipation in rescue and evacuation operations at sea.
04Maritime safety instructortraining staff in evacuation procedures and the use of life-saving appliances.
05Maritime safety consultant or auditoradvice to shipping companies and port operators and checking of evacuation procedures.
06Rescue coordination center staffsupport in the management and coordination of evacuation operations.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Rapid Vessel Evacuation Course

To save lives by getting everyone off a vessel in danger in an orderly way and in the shortest possible time, reducing their exposure to the hazard and preparing them to survive until rescue.

When the vessel can no longer offer more safety than the survival craft. The course works through the criteria for that decision: stability, spread of fire or flooding, time available, weather and the condition of the people on board.

Liferafts, rescue boats, lifejackets, lifebuoys, immersion suits and personal flotation devices, davits and release systems, and signaling and locating equipment such as EPIRB, SART, flares and portable radios.

No. Navalis Institute teaches the subject online and in depth, but mandatory STCW certificates are issued by the competent maritime authorities and require practical training at approved centers. This course complements that training.

You choose a vessel and an emergency scenario, design a rapid evacuation plan with command structure, routes, muster stations and abandonment sequence, simulate the evacuation and evaluate times, safety and control of people.

Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with simulated exercises, case studies and tutorials with the teaching staff.

The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each and ends with an applied project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at crew of recreational and commercial vessels, safety staff and those responsible for emergency management on board, boat owners and operators, maritime instructors and anyone who works or spends leisure time on boats; experience in maritime safety, emergencies or rescue, or basic training in personal survival techniques and fire prevention, is recommended, together with familiarity with basic nautical terminology.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer, tablet or mobile device with a stable internet connection and an up-to-date browser to follow the classes, simulated exercises and materials.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $172 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

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