STCW - Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF)

The STCW Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF) training prepares seafarers and offshore professionals to effectively lead fire-fighting operations on board ships or offshore installations. In this intensive training, you will not only learn the tactics and techniques for extinguishing complex fires, but also how to manage, coordinate, and train a fire-fighting team in realistic scenarios.

Course duration: 4 days
Locations: Groningen, Heerenveen, Vlissingen
Cost per student: € 1.663,00 (excl. BTW)

Questions or need help? Send an email or call 0031 118 463382

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About this course

STCW – Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF)

Introduction
The STCW – Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF) training is developed for seafarers who want more than just the basics of firefighting. This intensive four-day course takes your knowledge and skills to the next level and prepares you to coordinate fire-fighting operations in emergency situations.

The training complies with the STCW Convention of 1978, as amended in 2010 (REG. VI/3, Sec. A-VI/3 Para. 5, and Table A-VI/3), and focuses on the core of effective fire management: organization, tactics, and command. You will not only learn how to fight fires but also how to lead a team, implement procedures, and make decisions under high pressure.

Objective
Upon completion of the course, the participant will be able to organize comprehensive fire-fighting operations and ensure effective fire suppression, with the safety of crew members as the highest priority.

Target Group
Officers holding a certificate of competency as watchkeeping officer in accordance with Dutch maritime crew regulations (mandatory), and STCW including the Manila Amendments.

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Practical info

Entry Requirements
Participants must be in possession of:

a valid medical certificate for seafaring
a valid Basic Training certificate (STCW 2010)
good health and physical ability to take part in the practical exercises (including use of breathing apparatus, confined spaces, and heat exposure)

Course Content
The course is divided into a theoretical and a practical part covering the following topics:

Theory:

  • safety

  • fire-related emergencies

  • fire theory

  • fire control on board ships

  • use of fire-related protective equipment

Practice:

  • command and control

  • use of appropriate extinguishing agents

  • use of breathing apparatus

  • firefighting for both internal and external fires

Certification
Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive the certificate:
Proficiency in Advanced Fire Fighting, STCW reg. VI/3, Section A-VI/3, Table A VI/3

Validity
5 years

Course Duration
4 consecutive days

Number of Participants
Minimum 6, maximum 12 participants

Class Hours
08:30 – 16:30

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Day 1 - Basic Fire Fighting

The course begins with a refresher of basic fire fighting knowledge. In the afternoon, there will be a practical exercise on preparing and using breathing apparatus, followed by a training session in our Dräger training facility.

Day 2 - Fire Development and Extinguishing

The focus of this day is on recognizing the dangers of fire and how to deal with potential victims. Attention is given to Smoke, Flow, Temperature, and Flames (the RSTV model), as well as the use of portable fire extinguishers.

Day 3 - Command & Control

On this day, participants train in effective leadership during a fire incident. They will work with our XVR simulator. In the afternoon, we put theory into practice, with a focus on strategy, coordination, communication, and control.

Day 4 - Prepared for Reality

On the final day of the course, the focus is on bringing together all the material covered in the previous days. The entire day will consist of realistic practical exercises.

What's on the program?

  • Day 1 - Basic Fire Fighting
  • Day 2 - Fire Development and Extinguishing
  • Day 3 - Command & Control
  • Day 4 - Prepared for Reality
BBM

Advanced training facility for shipboard fire-fighting

BBM

Designed in the form of a ship, this facility enables comprehensive training in every aspect of shipboard fire-fighting.

High-quality facilities that make a difference

With the best resources and facilities at our disposal, we are able to offer training and courses of the highest quality.

Small Fire Extinguisher Training Area

Practical training with portable fire extinguishers

Small Fire Extinguisher Training Area

Realistic training with portable fire extinguishers for small fire scenarios.

Fire Development Container

Insight into the ignition and development of fire

Fire Development Container

Experience up close how a fire develops into a flashover.

Gas Fire Field

Training with gas fires under safe conditions

Gas Fire Field

Realistic and safe training in gas fire suppression.

Flammable Liquids Training Ground

Realistic training with gas and liquid fires

Flammable Liquids Training Ground

Intensive and realistic training in combating gas and liquid fires.

CFBT

Compartment Fire Behaviour Training

CFBT

CFBT: experience and understand fire behavior in enclosed spaces and learn to act safely during flashover and backdraft.

Dragerbaan

Training under breathing apparatus in realistic conditions

Dragerbaan

Realistic training with breathing apparatus, orientation, and teamwork in challenging conditions.

Bungalow

Realistic training in a multi-compartment residential structure

Bungalow

Wood-fired residential structure with multiple compartments. Ideal for search, movement techniques, and thermal imaging camera training.

Living Quarter

Training in a complete offshore accommodation module

Living Quarter

A four-level accommodation module from an oil rig, ideal for breathing apparatus exercises and complex emergency response training.

XVR

VR training for incident response

XVR

XVR provides essential scenario-based training for emergency responders. Users are immersed in a safe and controlled environment that can be easily repeated and evaluated, helping them build the confidence needed to act effectively in a crisis situation.

Advanced training facility for shipboard fire-fighting

BBM

BBM: Realistic Training in Controlled Conditions

In our fire training facility, participants learn how to act in a truly life-like fire situation. They are confronted with intense heat, dense smoke, limited visibility, and constant time pressure. This facility is specifically designed for demanding courses such as STCW Advanced Fire Fighting, NOGEPA 2.6A/B, company emergency response, and realistic scenario-based team training exercises.

What makes our fire training facility unique is the careful balance between realism and safety. The space consists of multiple compartments that can be heated and filled with smoke, either individually or in combination. This enables the practice of a wide range of scenarios: from an engine room fire or onboard compartment fire, to complex situations involving disorientation, explosion hazards, or teamwork under breathing apparatus.

Target Audience

This training environment is used by maritime personnel, offshore teams, industrial emergency responders, and company emergency response officers who must be prepared for fire incidents. Both individual skills and team dynamics are central: participants practice communication, leadership, and decision-making under pressure.

FFMaskFirefighting

What You Will Practice

Instructors will guide you step by step in the correct approach to and suppression of fire outbreaks. You will learn, among other things:

  • The correct use of breathing apparatus

  • Orientation and safety in dense smoke

  • Deployment of hoses and extinguishing agents in confined spaces

  • Teamwork during heat and smoke development

  • Leading fire-fighting operations (for advanced participants)

All activities take place under strict safety protocols, with real-time monitoring and a debriefing after each scenario. This way, you learn not only what to do, but also why, and how to improve as a team.

Interested in Using This Facility?

Would you like to use this training environment for your team training or a specific exercise scenario?
Please contact us for tailor-made programs or group options.

Practical training with portable fire extinguishers

Small Fire Extinguisher Training Area

Participants learn how to safely and effectively extinguish fires using handheld and portable fire extinguishers. Training takes place in realistic outdoor fire scenarios, allowing trainees to experience firsthand how different extinguishers work and what their limitations are.

What makes this facility unique is the hands-on approach to a variety of fire situations — from small liquid and gas fires to solid materials. Participants not only practice firefighting techniques but also learn to assess safety, distance, and the appropriate extinguishing strategy.

Who is it for

The Small Fire Extinguisher Training Area is used by maritime personnel, offshore teams, industrial emergency responders, and emergency response officers (BHV) who need to know how to control small fires quickly and effectively.

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What you’ll practice

Under the guidance of experienced instructors, participants will learn to:

  • Identify different types of fires and select the appropriate extinguishing agent

  • Use portable extinguishers (powder, foam, CO₂) effectively

  • Extinguish small liquid and gas fires

  • Approach safely and aim extinguishers accurately

  • Understand the limitations and capabilities of portable fire extinguishers

  • Ensure personal safety and assess risks during firefighting

All exercises are

Insight into the ignition and development of fire

Fire Development Container

The Fire Development Container is specifically designed to give participants a clear understanding of how a fire develops in an enclosed space. In this controlled environment, trainees witness the progression from an initial fire to a full flashover.

What makes this facility unique is the opportunity for participants to observe fire behavior and smoke development up close, under safe conditions and expert supervision. This experience provides valuable insight into how quickly situations can escalate and why swift, well-informed decision-making is critical.

Who is it for

The Fire Development Container is used by maritime personnel, offshore teams, industrial emergency responders, firefighters, and emergency response officers (BHV) who want to understand how fire develops and how to respond effectively.

F.O

What you’ll practice

Under the guidance of experienced instructors, participants will learn to:

  • Recognize early signs of fire development

  • Observe smoke and heat layers in an enclosed space

  • Understand fire behavior and flashover

  • Learn how ventilation and oxygen affect fire growth

  • Recognize the dangers of smoke, heat, and structural collapse

  • Understand the importance of rapid alarm and correct extinguishing choices

All exercises are conducted under strict safety protocols and are always supervised by experienced instructors who explain each process step by step.

For your organization

Would you like to give your team a deeper understanding of fire development and fire behavior?
Contact us — we’ll adapt the training to match the specific needs of your organization.

Training with gas fires under safe conditions

Gas Fire Field

At the Gas Fire Training Area, participants learn how to approach and extinguish gas fires safely and in a controlled manner. This facility uses realistic setups where pressurized gas is ignited, allowing trainees to experience how dangerous and unpredictable a gas fire can be.

What makes the Gas Fire Training Area unique is the expert guidance and focus on a variety of attack techniques, extinguishing agents, and safety strategies. The emphasis is not only on extinguishing the flames but also on understanding the risks and safely shutting off the source.

Who is it for

The Gas Fire Training Area is used by maritime personnel, offshore teams, industrial emergency responders, and firefighters who may encounter gas installations or pipelines in their work and want to learn how to respond safely during such incidents.

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What you’ll practice

Under the guidance of experienced instructors, participants will learn to:

  • Approach a gas fire safely

  • Identify the risks associated with gas leaks and fires

  • Apply the correct extinguishing agents and techniques

  • Shut off the gas source and prevent escalation

  • Work effectively as a team when combating gas fires

  • Maintain personal safety and use protective equipment properly

All exercises are conducted under strict safety protocols, with thorough briefings and debriefings. This ensures that participants not only develop practical skills but also gain a solid understanding of the underlying principles of gas fire suppression.

For your organization

Would you like to train your employees in the safe suppression of gas fires?
Contact us — we’ll create a program tailored to the specific risks and needs of your organization.

Compartment Fire Behaviour Training

CFBT

Understanding fire behavior in confined spaces

Through the Compartment Fire Behaviour Training (CFBT), participants experience how a fire develops and behaves in an enclosed environment. In this training facility, the entire fire development process becomes visible — from ignition and smoke formation to flashover.

What makes CFBT unique is that participants can safely observe, feel, and understand what happens during fire development under the close supervision of experienced instructors. This not only deepens theoretical knowledge but also raises awareness of the risks associated with firefighting in confined spaces.

Who is it for

The CFBT training is intended for firefighters, maritime personnel, offshore teams, and industrial emergency responders who want to gain a deeper understanding of fire dynamics and the influence of ventilation, smoke, and heat on fire behavior.

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What you’ll practice

Under the guidance of experienced instructors, participants will learn to:

  • Recognize early signs of fire development

  • Observe smoke behavior, heat buildup, and flame spread

  • Understand flashover and backdraft and their associated dangers

  • Identify how ventilation affects fire development

  • Approach incidents safely and assess risks effectively

  • Apply theoretical knowledge in practical, scenario-based training

The training is conducted under strict safety protocols. Afterward, a detailed debriefing follows in which observations and key lessons from the exercise are discussed.

For your organization

Would you like your team to gain a deeper understanding of fire behavior and safe response in confined space fires?
Contact us — we’ll tailor the CFBT training to the specific needs of your organization.

Training under breathing apparatus in realistic conditions

Dragerbaan

The Dräger Training Maze is specifically designed to help participants practice using breathing apparatus in challenging conditions. In a network of corridors, obstacles, and limited visibility, trainees learn how to move safely and effectively under pressure.

What makes the Dräger Training Maze unique is the combination of physical exertion, orientation, and breathing apparatus use. Participants experience the importance of staying calm, managing air consumption, and working effectively as a team in demanding environments.

Who is it for

The Dräger Training Maze is used by maritime personnel, offshore teams, industrial emergency responders, firefighters, and emergency response officers (BHV) who need to become proficient in the use of breathing apparatus and in working within confined or hazardous spaces.

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What you’ll practice

Under the guidance of experienced instructors, participants will learn to:

  • Use and check breathing apparatus correctly

  • Control air consumption under physical strain

  • Navigate and orient themselves in a maze with limited visibility

  • Overcome obstacles and narrow passages

  • Work together and communicate effectively while using breathing apparatus

  • Stay calm and manage stress responses

All exercises are conducted under strict safety protocols and monitored by instructors, ensuring a safe yet highly realistic learning experience.

For your organization

Would you like your team to train with breathing apparatus in realistic scenarios?
Contact us — we’ll design a customized program that reflects the practical challenges of your organization.

Realistic training in a multi-compartment residential structure

Bungalow

The Bungalow is a wood-fired training facility designed to simulate a real single-story residential house. It features multiple bedrooms and compartmentalized spaces, making it ideal for exercises focused on search techniques, movement, and orientation.

What makes the Bungalow unique is the combination of a familiar living environment with challenging fire conditions. Its wood-fired design allows participants to experience realistic smoke and heat development. The facility is also perfect for practicing with thermal imaging cameras — identifying and locating hot spots can be trained very effectively here.

Who is it for?

The Bungalow is used by firefighters, maritime personnel, offshore teams, industrial emergency responders, and emergency response officers (BHV) who want to train in a realistic residential environment with an emphasis on search operations and fire dynamics.

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What You’ll Practice

Under the guidance of experienced instructors, participants will learn to:

  • Conduct a search during a residential fire with multiple compartments

  • Apply movement techniques while using breathing apparatus

  • Perform rescue and evacuation of casualties from bedrooms and other rooms

  • Use a thermal imaging camera to identify and locate hot spots

  • Operate effectively under conditions of smoke, heat, and limited visibility

  • Coordinate as a team and communicate during residential fire operations

All exercises are wood-fired and conducted under strict safety protocols. Each session concludes with a debriefing to connect practical experience with theoretical knowledge.

For Your Organization

Would you like your team to train in search techniques, heat recognition, and firefighting within a realistic residential environment?
Contact us — we’ll create a training program tailored to your organization’s learning objectives.

Training in a complete offshore accommodation module

Living Quarter

The Living Quarters is a four-story accommodation module originally from an offshore drilling rig. All rooms remain in their authentic condition — from the canteen to the control room, and from the cabins to even the sauna — making the Living Quarters an exceptionally realistic training environment.

What makes this facility unique is that no live fire is used, yet it is perfectly suited for complex response exercises. The structure is widely used for training in basic breathing apparatus skills, orientation in large buildings, and large-scale scenarios where fire props are positioned directly against the structure. This creates a realistic interplay between firefighting, rescue, and building search operations.

Who is it for?

The Living Quarters is used by firefighters, offshore and maritime teams, industrial emergency responders, and emergency response officers (BHV) who want to train in a large-scale and complex building environment.

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What You’ll Practice

Under the guidance of experienced instructors, participants will learn to:

  • Apply basic skills for working with breathing apparatus

  • Navigate and move safely within large, multi-level structures

  • Perform rescue and evacuation of casualties in different types of rooms

  • Communicate and coordinate effectively in a large and complex environment

  • Operate in combination with fire props positioned next to or against the building

All exercises are conducted under strict safety protocols and thoroughly debriefed afterward, enabling participants to translate their experience into practical knowledge.

For Your Organization

Would you like your team to train in a realistic, multi-level accommodation module with its original interior?
Contact us — we’ll design a program tailored to your specific learning objectives.

VR training for incident response

XVR

What makes the XVR Simulator unique is its fully interactive virtual learning environment, where realistic emergencies and incidents can be simulated. From firefighting to maritime emergencies and industrial accidents, the XVR Simulator allows participants to safely practice decision-making, communication, command, and teamwork under pressure.

The simulator supports a wide range of scenarios — from individual exercises to multidisciplinary team training — and can be customized to match the specific learning objectives of your organization.

Who is it for

The XVR Simulator is designed for maritime, offshore, and industrial safety professionals, emergency services, supervisors, and instructors who want to strengthen their decision-making and leadership skills in a realistic yet safe environment. The facility is widely used for crisis management, command and control, and emergency procedure training at both operational and tactical levels.

XVR

What you’ll practice

Under the guidance of experienced instructors, the XVR Simulator allows you to practice:

  • Assessing situations and making decisions under pressure

  • Communicating across different disciplines and teams

  • Leading effectively during incidents and emergencies

  • Coordinating firefighting and rescue operations

  • Applying procedures in maritime and offshore contexts

  • Evaluating and improving performance through replay and debriefing

All exercises include real-time feedback and are concluded with an in-depth debrief, helping participants gain valuable insight into their decisions and key learning points.

For your organization

Would you like to use the XVR Simulator for scenario-based training, team development, or customized programs?
Contact us — we’ll create a realistic training program tailored to your organization’s risks, learning objectives, and operational environment.

Our instructors

The people behind the training.

Our experienced trainers challenge you to bring out the best in yourself. Our program coordinators are available to provide you with all information and to answer any practical questions regarding the training.

Maarten Janse
Senior Maritime Instructor
Ruud Kathagen
Maritime Instructor
Jorian Schut
Maritime Instructor
Emile van Dooren
Instructor
Waldo Verduijn
Instructor

Let them convince you

Frequently asked questions

DRTC provides a wide range of accredited safety courses for the maritime, offshore, wind and industrial sectors.

  • STCW – including Basic Training, Advanced Fire Fighting, Proficiency in Survival Craft (PSCRB/FRB), Medical First Aid, Medical Care and Security Awareness.
  • GWO – Basic Safety Training (BST) and individual modules such as Working at Height, First Aid, Fire Awareness, Manual Handling, Sea Survival and Enhanced First Aid.
  • NOGEPA – Basic Offshore Safety, Helicopter Underwater Escape (HUET), Sea Survival, Fire-fighting and specialised refresher courses.
  • BHV/First Aid/VCA – Basic and refresher courses in Emergency Response, First Aid and Safety Certification for all sectors.

See the current course overview on our website or contact drtc@drtc.nl for advice on the right training for your needs.

For seafarers and maritime professionals who must comply with international STCW requirements.

Yes, our STCW courses are recognised by the Dutch flag state (the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate – ILT). Each certificate includes the relevant STCW reference, ensuring international recognition.

We offer Basic Training (BT), Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF), Medical First Aid (MFA), Medical Care (MC), Proficiency in (Fast) Rescue Boats (PSCRB/FRB), and Security Awareness/Designated Duties.

Most STCW certificates must be renewed every 5 years (depending on the module and sea time requirements). Check the course page for exact details.

Yes, a valid maritime medical certificate is mandatory for participation.

Bring valid identification, a medical certificate (mandatory), and swimwear/towel if the course includes a pool module. PPE and rescue equipment are provided by DRTC.

 

Courses are available in Dutch or English. Additional support for reading difficulties can be arranged on request.

You will receive a digital and/or physical certificate in compliance with STCW standards. The format may vary by course.

Yes, we can. You can request this when booking or contact us by email or phone. We will arrange a suitable hotel and package for your stay.

You can cancel your booking by contacting us via email or phone. For open enrolment courses you may cancel free of charge up to 5 working days before the start. For customised training you may cancel free of charge up to 14 working days before the start. If you cancel within those deadlines the full course fee will be invoiced.

Visit our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ page for more information, or contact us at +31 118 463 382 or email drtc@drtc.nl.