Crew training
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Bluewater Yachting
STCW95 Crew Basic Training
Details
This course has been very successful and has seen record numbers this year, due to the increasing demand for safety aboard boats. While it is required for all Luxembourg flagships, and MCA compliant flags, STCW95 is now being highly recommended by other vessels.
The course conveys essential safety information which every seafarer should know. It is aimed partly at those going to sea for the first time and partly at students aiming to obtain MCA certificates of competency in the Deck or Engineering departments (for whom it is required).
There are four modules over the five days: Personal Survival Techniques, Elementary First Aid, Basic Firefighting and Personal Safety and Social responsibility. These may be taken separately
MCA OOW deck courses
OOW Navigation & Radar
Details
The Officer of the Watch Navigation and Radar module is a foundation course in yacht navigation but it is not for complete beginners. We highly recommend that students have taken and passed their RYA Yachtmaster before attending, although this is not a formal requirement. There are two parts to the course. Five days of theory followed by five days of practical navigation in our radar simulator in Antibes.
The first week of theory starts from where the RYA Yachtmaster leaves off. Students should be at Yachtmaster standard before attending or they may find this week difficult. Several areas are examined which are not fully covered in the Yachtmaster programme, such as chart correction, radar potting and more detailed understanding of electronic navaids. In the practical element there is much emphasis on the set up and correct operation of these navaids, good watchkeeping procedures, basic radar plotting and radar navigation, practical rule of the road.
General Ship Knowledge
General Ship Knowledge is aimed at deckhands seeking their first MCA qualification, the Officer of the Watch certificate.
It covers a wide area of material and some pre course reading is highly recommended. The course is all theory with an examination on the last day lasting 2 hours.
The most useful subjects to review before attending are meteorology and stability. There are a number of good basic met books available which would be worth reading. “Weather at Sea” by David Houghton, published by Fernhurst is a good introduction. On Stability, “Simple Ship Stability” by Alfred Carver, published by Fairplay Publications is the best book for starting out in this subject
GMDSS
Details
The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System General Operator’s certificate is a certificate of competence in its own right as a ship board radio operator's licence. It also forms an important part of the training required to obtain MCA certificates of competency.
This is an intensive course which describes essential safety procedures as well as those for routine communications traffic.
There are two written and two practical examinations in front of an examiner from the UK. Students unfamiliar with computer keyboards may be well advised to practice using them before attending the course.
Master’s Navigation & Radar
Details
This is very much a command course and concentrates on management level issues in Navigation. The course includes an STCW95 ARPA qualification as part of the programme.
The first week is all theoretical and concentrates on matters such as passage planning, full knowledge of the COLREGS, radar theory, ARPA theory, advanced radar plotting, and ECDIS.
In the second week students are placed in a series of exercises in our radar simulator of mounting complexity. They will be expected to improve their performance over the week. There will be a formal assessment in accordance with the Merchant Navy Training Board requirements for the ARPA certificate. At the end of the week there is a major exercise in a multi-ship environment where a firm grasp of the course content will be essential, particularly in the use of ARPA and an understanding of the COLREGS
The full detailed syllabus can be found in MGN 195. This can be downloaded from the MCA website www.mcga.gov.uk
Two Certificates are issued from this course: An STCW95 ARPA CERTIFICATE (No expiry) and an MCA Navigation, ARPA and RADAR CERTIFICATE (yachts) VALID FOR THREE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF PASSING THE EXAMINATION.
Brief Syllabus
Passage Planning
COLREGS
Search and rescue
Radar theory
Radar operation
ARPA theory
ECDIS and ARPA
ARPA mapping
Blind Pilotage
Radar Plotting
Dates. This 10 day course breaks for two days over the weekend between Pt. 1 & Pt. 2.
Cost: ˆ1800 + ˆ210 Exam fee
Duration: 10 Days
Seamanship & Meteorology
Details
This is a general command level course which is designed to convey certain important issues in five different key areas. It is a useful course in preparing the new Yacht Master for his or her responsibilities. All of the subject areas covered are given a high priority in the MCA Oral examination for 500gt and 3000gt Master.
This is the only opportunity for yacht captains to discuss the theoretical basis of ship handling and should equipe them to be able to discuss ship handling practice in an oral examination. Some masters in yachts may not have experienced dangerously rough seas when a wrong decision or inadequate preparation could cause the loss of the vessel. The full detailed syllabus can be found in MGN 195. This can be downloaded from the MCA website www.mcga.gov.uk.
Syllabus: Heavy weather ship handling/precautions Towing and Anchoring Emergency situations Dry Docking Navigation Watchkeeping priciples Master’s standing orders. Meteorology Lapse rates Air masses Tropical revolving Storms Forecastrs Marpol SOPEP/ORBGarbage Oil pollution Safety Code of Safe Working Practice Safety Officers Risk assessment
Cost: ˆ840 + ˆ210 exam fee
Duration: 5 Days
Stability
Details
This is a management level course that explores the principles of ship stability at a practical level. Emphasis is placed upon those aspects of the subject which can affect the work of a large yacht master.
The course aims to ensure an understanding of the principles rather than testing mathematical ability in their application. Nevertheless many of the principles will be illustrated by practical examples in the classroom and therefore a revision of basic algebra and trigonometry will benefit the student.
A good basic introduction to the subject is “Simple Ship Stability” by Alfred Carver, published by Fairplay Publications.
The full detailed syllabus can be found in MGN 195. This can be downloaded from the MCA website www.mcga.gov.uk
Pre-requisites: Students should study our prepared pre course study guide before attending which covers some of the basic maths skills that will be needed and introduces some key concepts of the course. This guide is available now from our office.
THE CERTIFICATE FROM THIS COURSE IS VALID FOR THREE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF PASSING THE EXAMINATION.
Brief Syllabus
Basic Principles
List and Related Problems
GZ Curves
Loll
Dry Docking
Longidtudonal Stability
Cost: ˆ840 + ˆ210 Exam fee
Duration: 5 Days
MCA Oral - Preparation Week
Details
This course is will prepare you for the MCA Deck Oral Examination. With the help of our experienced Prep week instructors, those students who attend the Preparation before the exam have a very high rate of success. The course reviews the most important aspects of all previous Deck courses which will be discussed in a mock exam setting, encouraging student participation. While this course is not required, it is highly recommended.
Business & Law
Details
This course is aimed at making the yacht master aware of his or her responsibilities in law. The course describes how criminal and civil jurisdictions work in the multinational environment of seafaring, the major international conventions that affect yachts and the documents and certificates required to support these. Important safety issues are discussed and in particular UK Health and Safety Laws and also the master and owner’s civil liabilities. Other aspects of UK law, such as that relating to Employment, Salvage and Insurance are covered. Students should study the prepared law-guide, which is available in advance from our office. The first four chapters should be studied before arrival and attempts made to answer the self test questions included in these sections.
Brief Syllabus:
International Law
International Conventions
Ships Documentation
Arrival and departure procedures
The ISM code
Health and Safety at Sea
Marpol Rules
International and UK Salvage law
UK Wreck law
Yacht Charter Agreements
Marine Insurance
AEC
Details
To cover: Compression ignition engine (general principles); Cycle of operation and constructional details; Fuel system; Role of air in the combustion process; Cooling system; Lubrication system; Engine electrical systems; Power transmission; Hull fittings; Pollution legislation; Code of Safe Working Practices; Bottled LPG installations. Note: Fault finding and rectification will be covered within each part of the syllabus as the individual topics are covered.
Cost: ˆ900
Duration: 5 Days
Note: You will need to complete the and an ENG1 Medical before submitting your AEC certificate to the MCA
Marine Diesel Engineering
Details
To cover: Working principles of diesel engines and petrol engines; Constructional details; Operation and maintenance; Heat exchangers and cooling systems; Fuel oils and preparation; Lubrication system; Turbochargers; Starting systems
Auxillary Equip. & Basic Ship Construction Details
Details
To cover:
Steering and stabilizer systems;
Pumps - working principles and construction;
Valves - types and uses;
Generators - construction and use;
Gearboxes and clutches;
Shafting, seals and bearings;
Basic electrical theory and practice;
Batteries - maintenance and safety;
Basic ship construction technology;
Basic knowledge of hull stresses in motor and sailing vessels.
Cost: ˆ900 + ˆ210 Exam fee
Op. Procedures & Basic Hotel Services
Details
To cover:
Keeping the log;
Taking over and accepting a watch;
Routine watchkeeping duties;
Bunkering and anti-pollution procedures;
Oily water separator - construction and use;
Principles of hydraulics and pneumatics;
Applications for hydraulics;
Principles of refrigeration/air conditioning;
Water generators - principles and maintenance;
Sewage treatment.
Chief Eng. Statutory & Operational Requirements
Details
To cover:
Health and safety at work;
Pollution control regulations;
‘M’ notices;
International conventions;
Dry docking procedures;
Planned maintenance;
Hull and machinery surveys;
Voyage planning;
Fire prevention, explosive mixtures and sources of ignition;
Ship construction (terminology and stresses);
Damage control, flooding and sub-division;
Fuel consumption.
Cost: ˆ900 + ˆ210 Exam fee
Duration: 5 Days
General Engineering Science I
Details
To cover:
Mathematics arithmetic;
Algebra;
Graphs;
Trigonometry;
Geometry;
Mensuration.
Applied Mechanics units;
Kinematics;
Dynamics;
Statics;
Friction;
Machines;
Strength of materials;
Fluids at rest;
Transverse stability.
General Engineering Science II
Details
Covers:
Applied Heat energy;
Gas laws;
Combustion;
Refrigeration.
Electricity nature of electricity;
Electric currents;
Electric circuits;
Resistance;
Secondary cells;
Magnetic fields;
Electromagnetic induction;
Measuring instruments and measurements.
Applied Marine Engineering
Details
To cover:
Materials technology and corrosion control;
Marine electrical practice;
Properties of fuels and lubricants;
Automation, instrumentation and control;
Engine starting systems.
Advanced Hotel Services
Details
To cover:
Air conditioning - forced air and chilled water;
Refrigeration;
Sewage treatment systems;
Hydraulics;
Fresh water systems;
Air compressors.
