For the purpose of RPL, the SSS course comprises three components:

• Practical exercises – that include use of liferafts, inflatable lifejackets, PLBs, EPIRBs and distress flares
• Theory content - includes storm sails, heavy weather, damage control and repair & MOB prevention/recovery
• Assessment paper

Please read below to see whether you are entitled to an exemption from any of these components.

You are exempt from the practical exercises if you have completed a liferaft and lifejacket practical session in the last five years as part of one of the following courses:

• Shipboard Safety Skill Set - MARS00008
• General Purpose Hand, Coxswain, Master <24, or other course that includes ESS or CoST
• STCW 10 Personal Survival Techniques, Proficiency in Survival Craft
• AMSA Certificate of Safety Training (CoST)
• RYA Sea Survival course
• Equivalent Course (see below) - World Sailing (formerly ISAF) approved

You are exempt from attending the theory content if you have been issued with one of the following in the past 5 years:

• NSCV Part D Certificate of Competence (Coxswain, Master <24m, or higher)
• Marine Order 3 or 70 series Certificate of Competence
• RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence (Coastal/Offshore/Ocean)
• Current World Sailing approved Offshore Personal Survival course certificate (bearing the World Sailing/ISAF logo)

You are exempt from undertaking the assessment paper if you have achieved one of the following in the past five years:

• RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence
• World Sailing approved Offshore Personal Survival course certificate (bears the World Sailing/ISAF logo)

This table may help you determine which exemptions you are entitled to:

*Please note that certificates will only be valid for 5 years from the date of the Liferaft & Lifejacket practical exercise to comply with the World Sailing Special Regulations; for example, if you completed an AMSA Certificate of Safety Training 4 years ago as part of your Master <24 (to achieve RPL for the Practical) and undertake the theory assessment, your SSSC will expire after 12 months.  The World Sailing Special Regulations require the training to have been completed within 5 years prior to commencement of a race.

Equivalent Course

Australian Sailing will accept (as an equivalent course to the Australian Sailing Safety and Sea Survival Course) any Safety and Sea Survival Course delivered within the past five years and to the standard of the World Sailing model course as laid out in Appendix G of the World Sailing Special Regulations, which results in a certificate bearing the MNA and I, World Sailing/ISAF logos bearing the words "World Sailing/ISAF Approved"

For further information please contact training@sailing.org.au