What Survival Systems Training does

Survival Systems Training Limited (SSTL) is a privately held safety and survival training company incorporated in 1996 and headquartered at 40 Mount Hope Avenue, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. SSTL delivers performance-based training across six sectors — Canadian Offshore (CAPP), International Offshore (OPITO), Marine (STCW and Transport Canada), Aviation (rotary and fixed wing), Industrial, and R&D — serving offshore oil and gas workers, military and para-public aviation crews (air ambulance, law enforcement, SAR), seafarers, industrial plant personnel, and government clients. The company operates the Marine Aviation Survival Training (MAST) Facility, which features a pool, helicopter simulator, cross gantry crane, and an OEM-service-representative-maintained Breeze Eastern 20200-501 rescue hoist capable of simulating winds up to 100 KMPH and sea states up to level 7.

SSTL's technology stack is centered on proprietary physical simulators rather than software, including the portable Aircraft Ditching Egress Practical Trainer (ADEPT) that rotates 360 degrees vertically, configurable Underwater Egress Training Simulators replicating specific airframes (Sikorsky S-61/S-76/S-92, H-92, EH-101, Boeing CH-147, AS-332 Super Puma, Bell variants, Beechcraft King Air, Dash 7/8, C-130, Cessna, P3 Orion), a mobile confined space simulator, and a FirePan fire extinguisher trainer. ADEPT units are manufactured in-house and sold to training centers worldwide, representing a hardware revenue line alongside services. The company holds the first OPITO Approved Training Centre status in Canada and maintains multiple regulatory accreditations (Transport Canada, STCW 95, Industry Canada ROC-MC, CAPP, NFPA 472/600, OSHA 1910.120).

SSTL's business model is primarily professional services — course fees paid by individuals and corporate clients — supplemented by hardware sales of ADEPT simulators. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; individuals pay a $200 deposit with balance due the first day of class, corporate programs are structured as multi-year contracts with on-site delivery available domestically and internationally, and cancellations under three business days incur a $500 administration fee per person. Go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven: a Registrar handles direct phone/email bookings, an annual course calendar schedules public courses, and partnerships with Virtual Marine and Total Response Solutions extend the offering. Distribution is global via on-site delivery using mobile simulators, with limited online self-serve options (SVOP, SDV-BS). Customer mix spans enterprise, government, and individual segments with no single dominant anchor.

Name

Survival Systems Training

Legal name

Survival Systems Training Limited

Website

https://sstl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Survival Systems Training (SSTL) is a Nova Scotia-based, OPITO- and Transport Canada-certified safety and survival training company serving offshore oil and gas, military and civil aviation, marine, industrial, and government clients worldwide via its Dartmouth MAST facility and proprietary simulators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Safety and Survival Training Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime Safety, Security & Compliance (STCW/ISM/ISPS) (EDAOANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maritime Safety Management Systems & Training (ISM/ISO 45001, Drills, Competency) (TLAHANAF), Maritime Security Training & Drills (ISPS, Crew Training) (BPAKALAG), Naval Training, Simulation & Shore-Based Support Systems (IMABAKAO)

Keywords

• Safety survival training
• Offshore safety training
• Underwater egress training
• Marine aviation training
• Industrial rescue training

Headquarters

HQ city

Dartmouth

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Safety and Survival Training Courses: Professional training services across six sectors: Canadian Offshore, International Offshore, Marine, Aviation, Industrial, and R&D. Courses range from basic safety certification to advanced emergency response. Revenue generated through course fees paid by individuals and corporate clients.
2. On-site and Satellite Training Delivery: Customized training delivered at client facilities in Canada or internationally. Mobile training units and simulators enable remote delivery.
3. Training Equipment Manufacturing: SSTL manufactures ADEPT units for purchase by other training centers worldwide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Survival Systems Training Limited delivers performance-based safety and survival training programs for high-risk occupations across offshore oil and gas, marine transportation, aviation, and industrial sectors. The company's core offering is hands-on, regulator-approved training conducted at its Marine Aviation Survival Training (MAST) Facility or delivered on-site at client locations, using proprietary simulation equipment including the ADEPT portable egress trainer, configurable UETS aircraft fuselage simulators, a Breeze Eastern rescue hoist, and a Mobile Confined Space Simulator. Certifications issued are recognized by OPITO, Transport Canada, STCW, CAPP, NFPA, OSHA, and Industry Canada.

Product overview

Survival Systems Training Limited (SSTL) is a premier safety and survival training company incorporated in 1996, offering performance-based training programs across six sectors: Canadian Offshore, International Offshore (OPITO-approved), Marine (STCW and Transport Canada approved), Aviation, Industrial, and R&D. The company operates from its Marine Aviation Survival Training (MAST) Facility in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and can deliver training at client sites globally. The portfolio includes underwater egress training simulators (UETS) and the portable Aircraft Ditching Egress Practical Trainer (ADEPT), along with comprehensive courses in HUET, firefighting, rescue craft operations, HAZMAT response, confined space entry, and rope rescue. Training is delivered through classroom theory, practical pool exercises, fire training grounds, and realistic simulation equipment, with certifications recognized by Transport Canada, OPITO, and industry bodies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Basic Survival Training (BST) Comprehensive offshore worker training covering Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET), Helicopter Underwater Escape Breathing Apparatus (HUEBA), Firefighting, and Abandonment procedures for Canadian Offshore standards including CAPP. Targeted at offshore workers in Canadian waters.
• Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) OPITO Approved safety induction and emergency response training covering helicopter underwater escape and sea survival for international offshore personnel traveling to and working on offshore installations outside Canada.
• Tropical Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (T-BOSIET) OPITO approved training for tropical offshore environments covering helicopter underwater escape and sea survival in warm water conditions for international offshore personnel.
• Underwater Egress Training (UET) Performance-based training for aircrews reacting to rotary or fixed-wing aircraft ditching emergencies, delivered for both Canadian and international military and para-public aviation clients.
• Helicopter Rescue Hoist Training Training for pilots, hoist operators, SAR technicians, and rescue swimmers in offshore, over-land, and over-ship rescue and ditching emergencies, delivered using the MAST facility's 7m static platform and dynamic helicopter simulator with the Breeze Eastern rescue hoist.
• Emergency Breathing Systems (EBS) Training for aircrew on compressed air systems (SEA LV2, HEEDS) and re-breather systems (Shark APP, Norwegian 3rd Lung) for enhanced survivability during aircraft ditching events.
• Winter/Land Survival Training for Aircrew Training for aircrew on forced landing emergencies, winter survival skills, shelter building, signals, and fire building techniques.
• STCW Basic Safety Entry-level marine safety training required for all deck and engine room rating qualifications, meeting STCW Tables A-VI/1-1, 1-2 and 1-4 standards and approved by Transport Canada.
• Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP) Transport Canada qualification course for operating small commercial vessels, covering navigation, regulations, emergency procedures, and vessel safety. Available online or in person.
• Fast Rescue Craft (FRB) Training for operating fast rescue boats in various sea states, covering launch and recovery, maneuvering, SAR patterns, and capsize recovery per CAPP requirements.
• Command & Control and Management of Major Emergencies (CCMME) Senior-level training for Offshore Installation Managers and emergency response team members on managing major emergencies per CAPP Guidelines.
• Fall Protection Basic Rescue (FPBR) Industrial training for workers on fall protection awareness, equipment selection, and rescue procedures when working at heights.
• Confined Space Entry & Rescue Comprehensive confined space training covering entry permits, atmospheric testing, breathing apparatus, and technical rescue procedures, delivered using the Mobile Confined Space Simulator.
• HAZWOPER Hazardous waste operations training meeting OSHA 1910.120, NFPA Standard 472, and provincial/federal regulations for workers handling hazardous materials cleanup and containment.
• HAZMAT Technician Advanced hazardous materials response training meeting NFPA 472 requirements for Hazardous Materials Technicians covering control and containment of dangerous goods incidents.
• Industrial Fire Fighting Operations (IFF) Industrial fire brigade training covering incipient, advanced interior, and exterior firefighting techniques per NFPA Standard 600.
• High Angle Rope Rescue Technical rope rescue training for rescuing trapped or injured persons from elevated structures, covering rappelling, casualty packaging, and mechanical advantage systems.
• Radio Operators Course - Maritime Commercial (ROC-MC/GMDSS) Industry Canada approved radio operator training covering GMDSS communications for maritime commercial personnel, launched in 2024 as part of a new course expansion.
• Marine Advanced First Aid (Transport Canada Certificate) Transport Canada approved advanced first aid course designed for seafarers, launched in 2024 as part of a new marine training course expansion.
• Marine Basic First Aid (Transport Canada Certificate) Transport Canada approved basic first aid course designed for seafarers, launched in 2024 as part of a new marine training course expansion.
• Specialized Passenger Safety Management (Transport Canada Certificate) Transport Canada approved course covering specialized passenger safety management for marine operations, launched in 2024 as part of a new marine training course expansion.
• Standby Rescue Services On-site emergency response personnel deployment for confined spaces, firefighting, high angle rope, and marine operations, delivered using NFPA/CSA approved equipment.
• Aircraft Ditching Egress Practical Trainer (ADEPT) Proprietary, portable underwater egress training simulator manufactured by SSTL that can be configured to represent both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, rotates 360 degrees vertically on a stationary base, is height adjustable for use in any pool, has removable/replaceable seats and exits with no tools required, and can simulate rollover capsize and pitch pole end-over-end capsize scenarios. Sold to other training centres worldwide.
• Underwater Egress Training Simulators (UETS) Configurable, state-of-the-art simulators replicating helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft interiors including Sikorsky S-61, S-76, S-92, H-92, EH-101, Boeing CH 147, AS-332 Super Puma, Bell 206/212/214/412 variants, and fixed-wing aircraft including Beechcraft King Air, Dash 7/8, C-130, Cessna, Twin Otter, and P3 Orion. Used by SSTL for training delivery.
• Marine Aviation Survival Training (MAST) Facility State-of-the-art training facility at the Dartmouth headquarters featuring a pool, cross gantry crane with a Breeze Eastern 20200-501 variable speed, OEM-maintained rescue hoist, and a helicopter simulator, enabling rescue hoist training, aircraft egress training, sea survival training, and simulation of day/night conditions, sea state levels up to 7, and winds up to 100 KMPH.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Virtual MarineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner featured on SSTL Partners in Training page. Virtual Marine is a virtual marine training solutions provider.
• Total Response SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner featured on SSTL Partners in Training page. Total Response Solutions provides emergency response training services.
• TRS (Total Response Solutions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Hoist Emergency Response Training (HERT) demonstration at the 2016 HERT Symposium on March 31st. TRS and SSTL partnered to deliver HERT training demonstrations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RelyOn Nutec (formerly Falck Safety Services): Global safety and survival training provider for offshore, maritime, and energy industries, with OPITO-approved centres across multiple countries. Directly comparable in HUET/BOSIET/FOET, firefighting, and offshore safety training, but with much larger global footprint and corporate reach.
• Maersk Training: Maritime and offshore training provider offering STCW, offshore safety, and emergency response courses globally. Overlaps directly with SSTL on STCW marine courses, HUET, and offshore safety training, with larger infrastructure and a wider geographic network.
• Survivex (3T Energy Group): UK-based energy and offshore training centre covering HUET, BOSIET, FOET, firefighting, and emergency response. Closely matches SSTL's international offshore (OPITO) course portfolio, with similar ADEPT-style helicopter egress simulation.
• STC Group (Shipping & Transport College Group): Maritime training college offering STCW, advanced firefighting, fast rescue boat, and survival craft courses. Comparable in STCW/Transport Canada-approved marine training but operates at significantly larger scale and is based in the Netherlands.
• Petrofac (Training Services): International energy services company with a training services arm covering offshore safety, HUET, and emergency response. Comparable on offshore safety training, with a much larger corporate parent and broader energy-industry footprint.

Broad incumbents

• OPITO: Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization that sets international standards for offshore safety and approves training centres, including SSTL's first-in-Canada status. Functions as the industry regulator and accreditation body, with broader industry reach and influence.

Regional players

• Memorial University Marine Institute: Canadian marine training institution in Newfoundland offering STCW, marine emergency duties, and offshore safety programs. Directly comparable on STCW and Transport Canada-approved courses and serves a similar East Coast Canadian offshore customer base, but does not focus on aviation egress.
• Holland College Marine Training: Canadian maritime training college offering STCW and Transport Canada-approved courses from a base in Prince Edward Island. Geographic and regulatory overlap with SSTL's marine training portfolio, but focused on Canadian domestic maritime rather than aviation egress.

Others

• Virtual Marine: Canadian virtual marine training solutions provider, listed as a formal training partner of SSTL. Complementary rather than competitive — they provide simulation technology, while SSTL operates physical training delivery.

Emerging players

• BMT Group (Maritime Training): Maritime engineering and consulting firm with maritime training and simulation services for commercial shipping and defense customers. Partial overlap with SSTL on maritime safety and human factors/R&D, with stronger engineering and digital simulation capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/SSTL96
• Facebookfacebook.com/SurvivalSystemsTraining
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/survival-systems-training-ltd-
• Instagraminstagram.com/survivalsystemstraining
• Xx.com/SS_TrainingLtd

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Survival Systems Training