The Leadership Gap in Survival Craft Training

When mariners train for emergencies, much of the emphasis falls on technical survival craft skills—how to launch a lifeboat, how to operate a life raft, how to deploy equipment. These skills are essential. But according to the U.S. Coast Guard’s NVIC 01-24, there is another responsibility that is just as vital: the ability to “take command.” 

This phrase appears repeatedly in the standard, yet in many maritime training programs it receives little more than passing mention. Leadership in survival craft situations is often oversimplified into vague advice—“assign jobs” or “keep survivors busy.” In reality, the actions of a survival craft leader are complex, dynamic, and potentially life-saving.

Up until the Proficiency in Survival Craft (PSC) or Proficiency in Survival Craft Limited (PSCL) course, most mariners have been taught personal survival skills—how to look after themselves. But once they complete these courses, they may be assigned to lead a raft or lifeboat carrying 25 or more survivors.

By issuing a PSC or PSCL certificate, we are essentially confirming that this individual has met the proficiency standard for taking command of a survival craft. And yet, too often, the training leans heavily toward technical competencies while under-emphasizing the human leadership dimension that makes the difference between chaos and coordinated survival.

What Leadership in Survival Craft Really Looks Like

Leadership in a survival situation is not about shouting orders or repeating generic phrases. It is about strategy, decision-making, and human management under extreme stress. A true survival craft leader must:

• Conduct a rapid muster and ensure all survivors are accounted for.

• Get survivors properly equipped in immersion suits and transferred to the craft.

• Launch and clear the ship while maintaining order.

• Continuously monitor the group—managing fear, panic, medical needs, and morale.

• Delegate tasks effectively and maintain accountability.

• Make decisions on navigation, rescue signaling, and resource allocation.

• Lead the group through potentially long hours or days until every person is safely evacuated by helicopter, rescue boat, or another vessel.

In short, survival craft leadership is not only technical—it is situational leadership under duress.

Common Leadership Mistakes to Avoid

Research on emergencies shows that panic is not the norm—in fact, most people act cooperatively. But mistakes by the person in charge can undermine survival efforts. Some common pitfalls include:

• Assuming rescue will be immediate and neglecting rationing or long-term planning.

• Failing to manage morale, allowing despair or conflict to spread unchecked.

• Micromanaging tasks instead of building trust through delegation.

• Overlooking medical or psychological needs in favor of mechanical checklists.

How SFWW Approaches Leadership in PSC and PSCL

At Seafarers Worldwide Career Training, we take a different perspective: we train each student not just as an individual survivor, but as a potential survival craft leader.

Our approach goes beyond “what to do” and focuses on how to lead people through crisis. Students are challenged to consider:

• What is my personal leadership strategy in a survival situation?

• How will I inspire confidence and manage fear?

• How do I balance technical execution with human care?

By framing PSC and PSCL as leadership courses as much as technical courses, we ensure that graduates leave not only knowing how to launch a craft—but also how to lead the people inside it.

Why This Matters

When a certificate is issued, it carries weight. It says this mariner is ready to be responsible for lives in an emergency. At SFWW, we believe that means teaching more than survival craft mechanics—it means developing decisive, compassionate leaders who can “take command” when it matters most.

Because in a survival situation, technical skills keep the boat afloat—but leadership keeps the people alive.