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Maritime training courses, STCW training and consultancy

STCW training for anyone working at sea onboard commercial vessels, along with maritime enclosed space training.

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People trained (25,000) - 25,000 trained in last 12 months 25,000 trained in last 12 months
Employed Trainers (100+) - Over 100 employed trainers Over 100 employed trainers
Nationwide (UK Wide Coverage) UK Wide Coverage

For over 120 years, MRS Training & Rescue has developed specialist skills and knowledge from working in dangerous environments and rescuing mine workers trapped in rescue situations. This experience has ensured that we are the foremost company in the world for dealing with confined and enclosed spaces training and rescues.

Our history and expertise led us to now offer Maritime enclosed spaces training and rescue services. We conducted an intensive study of enclosed spaces in marine environments and engaged with multiple enclosed spaces on ships. This allowed us to apply our specialist knowledge and experience into developing courses and consultancy specifically for the Maritime industry. Most recently, we have created state of the art facilities at our centre in Southampton, to offer the full suite of STCW Basic Safety Training – essential for anyone working on board vessels at sea.

Why choose MRS Training & Rescue for your STCW Training?

Why might I need Enclosed Space Consultancy?

In the Maritime industry, it is recognised that enclosed space problems, coupled with increasing accident rates, cannot be ignored - but there is very little existing specialist assistance, training or advice available.

Frequently asked questions

Rescue from an enclosed space is a highly specialised procedure. MRS Training & Rescue uses its 115 years of experience, alongside today's most up-to-date intensive training programmes onboard new and old ships, to provide a ‘best practice' and effective safety

service to the Maritime Industry. We specialise in rescue techniques connected with every type of enclosed space situation.

We can also supply a fully equipped, self-contained rescue team on-site for use during high risk enclosed space work, thereby alleviating the pressures placed upon the crew to divert valuable human resources from their day to day work activity.

Our years of experience rescuing from enclosed spaces and training those people working in them has enabled us to adopt very strict requirements for the equipment that we use and recommend. We are only prepared to recommend equipment for sale which, through extensive testing and ‘on the job’ use, has proven to be fit for purpose. To find out more, click to review our full list of equipment.

We would be delighted to discuss individual company requirements and, if necessary, visit any ship or marine site to evaluate your equipment needs.

Confined and enclosed spaces have been around for a very long time. There is a vast amount of published material warning of the dangers, and there’s plenty of technology, equipment and training already developed to enable persons to enter and work safely in these spaces, and yet – people are still killed in them.

The Merchant Shipping (Entry into Dangerous Spaces) Regulations 1988 defines a ‘dangerous space’ as being any enclosed or confined space in which it is foreseeable that the atmosphere may at some stage contain toxic or flammable gases or vapours, or be deficient in oxygen, to the extent that it may endanger the life or health of any person entering that space.

The International Maritime Organisation (Resolution A.1050(27) – Revised Recommendations for Entering Enclosed Spaces Aboard Ships) defines an “enclosed space” as a space which has any of the following characteristics:

  • Limited openings for entry and exit
  • Inadequate ventilation; and
  • Is not designed for continuous worker occupancy

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Cargo spaces
  • Double bottoms
  • Fuel tanks
  • Ballast tanks
  • Cargo pump rooms
  • Cargo compressor rooms
  • Cofferdams
  • Chain lockers
  • Void spaces
  • Duct Keels
  • Inter-barrier spaces
  • Boilers
  • Engine crankcases
  • Engine scavenge air receivers
  • Sewage tanks
  • Adjacent connected spaces

This list is not exhaustive, and a list should be produced on a ship-by-ship basis to identify enclosed spaces.

The atmosphere of any enclosed or confined space is potentially dangerous. The space may be deficient in oxygen and/or contain flammable or toxic fumes, gases or vapours. Where possible, alternative means of working which avoid entering the space should be found.

If a ship or vessel is made fast to the shore, then the spaces on that vessel are classed as confined spaces and fall under the Confined Space Regulations 1997. Those spaces only become enclosed spaces once the vessel is at sea, and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have developed a Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers 2015 which gives guidance for seafarers when working in enclosed spaces.

The atmosphere in holds, bilges, bulkheads, cofferdams and other enclosed spaces on ships presents potentially deadly risks. It is a sad truth that proportionally more seafarers die in accidents in enclosed spaces than in any other accidents at sea. A lack of awareness, training and rescue drills can mean that safe ways of working in enclosed spaces are all too often ignored or poorly implemented.

Of the data reported by the Marine Accident Investigators International Forum and to the International Maritime Organisation in 2009, and updated with the data available up to 2017, it is suggested that there had been 145 international enclosed space incidents over a period of 19 years (1998 – 2017).

Around 75% or 103 reported deaths since 1998 could have been prevented if people had available and were trained to use a simple gas detector, with the average cost of the initial purchase being between £400 and £500, and as low as £150 for a single sensor oxygen monitor. Remaining deaths could have been prevented if the space had been adequately categorised, the implications of the cargos considered and systems in place to prevent unplanned entries.

Why MRS Training & Rescue

We provide training on an international basis, having worked across the UK, throughout Europe as well as in America and West Africa. All our trainers and assessors are fully qualified to provide expert training and assessment in all aspects of safety.

We also offer enclosed space:

  • Consultancy: visiting your company, ship or platform to consult on any problem you may have
  • Rescue: using specialist rescue techniques to provide an effective safety service renowned as 'best practice'
  • Equipment: sales to meet the needs of your specific enclosed space requirements
  • Management System; designed to effectively assess, audit and manage the safety of your enclosed spaces.

As the Marine Authority on enclosed spaces, we aim to meet all our clients' needs in every service we provide, with:

  • Quality – by providing an excellent service delivered by professional, accredited people
  • Support – we provide a full support service offering follow-up advice incorporating the latest information and procedures
  • Flexibility – we will always endeavour to meet our clients at a location and date to suit you
  • Latest skills – as the UK's leading body in enclosed spaces, we are always at the forefront of best practice

 

MRS Training & Rescue assisted OGN in training over 600 of our workforce to work safely in Low Risk & Confined Spaces. Their flexible approach allowed us to train Dayshift, Nightshift and Weekend staff

Susan Culyer, Technical Author, OGN

Would highly recommend MRS Training & Rescue. Recently attended STCW Personal Survival Techniques (PST) Course. I was very impressed with the high level of instruction being taught, things I never learnt on previous courses with other companies. Professional instructors in a relaxed environment. Was made to feel relaxed with some worries I had and given some one on one tutorial which is above and beyond anything expected.

, Paul Thompson

The course was really good, the trainer rseponded well to questions and used reviews to check for comprehension, so no suggested improvements.

David Robertson, Marine Accident Investigation Branch

Fantastic thankyou! Really enjoyed the course.

James Bockett, Marine Accident Investigation Branch

5 star facilities, the trainers are experts in the field who are very knowledgeable and gave informative briefs and descriptions. The arena, equipment and teaching was of a very good standard and was very informative. Overall 5 star standard.

Steven Jackson, SFANE Ltd
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Our Heritage

MRS Heritage


For over 120 years, MRS has provided its specialist skills, experience and knowledge to effect the rescue and escape of mine workers from underground. Read more about our historic heritage, and how it has impacted on our present and future, by clicking here

The Benefits

  • We are a leading authority in confined space and at height technical rescue and we never rest in our goal to keep people safe.

  • We practice what we preach – our trainers are also operational rescue team members – so have real life stories to make the theory come alive.

  • We deliver best-in-class training so that anyone attending courses leaves capable of applying the knowledge to real-life situations.

  • Most of our courses are highly practical and feedback from delegates is excellent.

  • Nationwide service from our eight Training and Rescue Centres across the UK.

  • Are employed by us and trained to our own exacting standards.

  • Have real-life experience of working in high-risk environments and often share these with candidates.

  • Understand recognised learning styles and quickly adapt their delivery based on the needs of those being trained.

  • Ensure delegates are engaged by punctuating training with tests, quizzes and practical sessions.

  • Where possible, include information specific to delegates’ working practices so they leave ready to apply the learning in their day-to day roles.

What our customers say...

5 stars, 1584 reviews

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Experts you can trust

With real life stories to make the theory come alive