Mandatory courses and Under 16.5m Skippers ticket

MANDATORY COURSES

There are clear rules for the legal requirement to be able to go to see on commercial fishing vessels, all courses are one day duration:

BEFORE going to sea you must attend a Seafish Sea Survival course (or an STCW Personal Survival technique course)

Within your first 3 months at sea your must take the following courses:

  • Seafish Basic Health and Safety for New Entrants
  • Seafish First Aid  (or STCW First Aid equivalent)
  • Seafish Fire Fighting

After you have completed your first 6 months at sea, and before you have completed 2 years, you must take Seafish Safety Awareness/Risk Assessment

THESE ARE THE LEGAL REQUIREMENT AND IF COMMERCIAL BOAT SKIPPERS/OWNERS DO NOT MEET THESE THE BOAT INSURANCE MAY NOT BE VALID AND IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES THE MCA HAVE THE RIGHT TO STOP THE BOAT GOING TO SEA.

ENHANCED COURSES AND SEAFISH UNDER 16.5M SKIPPER’S TICKET

Once the mandatory requirements have been met there are further courses available to develop your knowledge and skills.  There is currently a voluntary Seafish Under 16.5m Skippers Ticket available for small  commercial fishing boat skippers.  There are 2 versions, a Restricted (for up to 20 miles off shore) and Unrestricted for over 20 miles offshore).  The courses required for these are:

Restricted and Unrestricted Skipper’s Tickets:

All the mandatory courses (Sea Survival, Fire Fighting, First Aid and Safety Awareness)

Restricted Skipper’s Ticket:

  • Seafish 2 day Bridgewatchkeeping
  • Seafish 2 day Engine
  • Seafish 1 day Stability for experienced fishermen (Intermediate) plus 1 day Advanced Stability
  • Short Range Certificate (Radio)

Unrestricted Skipper’s Ticket

  • Seafish 5 day Bridgewatchkeeping
  • MCA Approved Engine Course (30 hour course)
  • Seafish 1 day Stability for experienced fishermen (Intermediate) plus 1 day Advanced Stability
  • Short Range Certificate (Radio)

The Unrestricted Under 16.5m Skipper’s Ticket is also recognised for other commercial work on boats up to 24m, working up to 20 miles offshore. Details are given in MGN411

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mgn-411-cert-req-for-crew-of-fv-their-use-to-vessels-yachts