Providing a range of key services to thirty member companies and their seafarers

The Ship Safe Training Group (SSTG) is a non-profit marine training management company. We are directly owned, funded and controlled by our member companies on a mutual basis.

The SSTG was conceived in 1978 when a number of companies, all operating vessels predominately based in and around the UK and near continent, got together to form an organisation to look after all their training requirements. Originally the group operated with one training officer who looked after all the founding member companies training requirements. Since then the size of SSTG has grown to meet the ever-increasing complexity of the training requirements of its member companies. However, we have strived to remain small enough to be able to respond quickly to the changing needs of the member companies. 

In 2000 the Group’s achievements were recognised at the International Maritime Industry Salute to Youth Training awards ceremony. Later the same year the Groups General Manager, at the time, received an MBE in the Queen's New Years Honours List.

The current Managing Director has now been with the group for over 18 years, and the staff between them bring a wealth of previous sea experience, training knowledge, recruitment, financial and administration expertise and a range of other related skills.

Recruitment & Training

“I know the skills I acquired and the qualifications I attained are in demand, so I feel very confident about my future." Engineer Cadet now serving at sea as a junior officer

The SSTG recruits new entrant deck and engineer officer cadets for a career at sea onboard our members’ vessels operating worldwide. We organise and supervise their training programmes to provide high quality and progressive training and support to exceed all standards laid down by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). The MCA is the regulatory body of the Department for Transport responsible for the UK shipping industry.

The award of an unlimited Officer of the Watch certificate of competency, for example, qualifies the junior officer to be in charge of a navigational bridge or engine room watch, on any type of ship operating in any area of the world.

“Once you have got used to being away from home, then managing your own life and travelling away is one of the greatest attractions.” Deck Cadet now serving at sea as a junior officer

We also manage the training for existing seafarers who are actively seeking to progress their careers by achieving higher qualifications. This training enables junior officers to gain higher certificates of competency qualifying them for the more senior positions on board ship. Experienced seafarers also have considerable opportunities for developing rewarding careers in associated maritime sectors ashore.

Click here for more information on seafarers qualifications.

Committed to Providing You with Comprehensive Support

The SSTG provides full support to cadets whilst undertaking HND, FD or degree programmes.

The college phases of your study will be offered through universities or college of further or higher education. Currently courses are run at Chatham Maritime in Kent; Fleetwood; Glasgow; Liverpool; Plymouth; South Tyneside; and Southampton. We normally arrange your accommodation in a college hall of residence or in college-approved accommodation off-campus.

In conjunction with the employing companies and collegies we provide full organisation, instructions and guidance during both the college and sea based phases. We monitor and supervise your progress to ensure that you are receiving the full support you need to succeed in the completion of your training programme. This includes a strong emphasis on ensuring that you are given the appropriate support to assist you in acclimatising to life, work and training at sea.

In return, trainees are expected to conform to all training, disciplinary and employment rules and regulations whilst on board ship and at college. In this respect stringent drug and alcohol policies are in force, any infringement of which will normally result in dismissal. Cadets following HND programmes are usually expected to wear uniform whilst studying at college.