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Marine Operative Apprenticeship

This occupation in the maritime industry covers a wide range of commercial activity on inland tidal and non-tidal waterways such as (but not limited to) the Thames, Humber and Mersey.

Boatmasters often navigate vessels through busy and highly challenging waterways. Opportunities in this industry vary greatly - for instance, a Boatmaster could be the captain of a single vessel tourist boat or could be working for a large freight operator, responsible for safely moving freight up the river to a port.

Inland waterways vessels might typically operate within a limited navigational area based around a standard working day. However, regulations also allow the Boatmaster to navigate a limited distance out to sea. Inland waterways vessels come in all shapes and sizes but are usually designed for short riverine or inshore trade, never more than five miles from land, or 15 miles from the point of arrival and/or departure. Boatmasters are therefore, rarely out of sight of land. Vessel types include but are not limited to vessels from the freight and civil engineering sector and passenger boats that carry up to 12 persons on board.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to ensure safe operation and passage of the vessel. A Boatmaster is responsible for, and has command of, commercial passenger or non-passenger (freight and ‘other service’) vessels and all those on board.

In their daily work, a Boatmaster interacts with other Boatmasters, crew, any passengers, other vessels and emergency services. Much of their time will be spent on the water and they can expect to work outdoors in all weathers. A Boatmaster is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the vessel, ranging from the equipment on-board through to the mechanics. They must plan their navigation, handle the vessel, and ensure safe mooring/anchoring.

They will lead their crew and report to the vessel owners. Often, there is just one Boatmaster on board, but dependent on the type of vessel there can be two or even more; in these circumstances just one of the Boatmasters will be appointed Captain (in overall charge).

Entry requirements

Individual employers will set the recruitment and selection criteria for their apprenticeships. In order to optimise success, candidates will typically have 4 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or equivalent, including Mathematics, English and a Science.

Qualifications and development

This apprenticeship provides for full competency in the Boatmaster occupation, but apprentices must also obtain a licence from the MCA, so they can lawfully operate a vessel. The Tier 1 Level 2 Boatmasters Licence is the highest standard attainable and all apprentices must attain this licence before moving forward to end-point assessment.

Career options are many and varied - depending on how a Boatmaster wants to specialise in future, they will need to gain additional "endorsements" (certificates from the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA)). Such endorsements sit outside this apprenticeship.

Sample timeline of your apprenticeship

No.

Location

Module

Time

1

Plymouth

Maintain own working practices (1)

2 weeks

Fire prevention and fire fighting

Person safety and social responsibilities

Personal security awareness

Personal survival techniques

2

Communicate using equipment and visual means

Essential first aid

Reviews

Functional skills

Powerboat Level 2

3

Gravesend

Day skipper navigation theory and meteorology

2 weeks

4

Denton

Maritime employment, environmental, health and safety practices and safe working

Maritime sector overview and RYA professional practices and responsibilities

Reviews

5

Plymouth

Day skipper practical power

1 week

Communicate using equipment and visual means

6

Seaworks

Maritime sector overview

1 day

7

Denton

Securing a vessel for passage

3 days

Vessel ropework, anchoring and mooring operations

5 days

Assist with a vessels nav watch (inc. RYA radar)

8

Online

Coastal skipper theory

1 week

9

Plymouth

Coastal skipper practical and theory assessment

1 week

10

Online

SQA electronic chart systems

1 week

SQA radar

11

Denton

Maintain vessel machinery for safe operation

1 week

Human element in leadership management

12

13

Plymouth

Yachtmaster coastal preparation and CoC exam

2 weeks

MCA-approved engine course SQA basic vessel engineering systems

MCA crisis management and human behaviour

14

Denton

Vessel construction and stability

11 days

Vessel repair and maintenance

Final assessment and exam preparation

 

What to expect during your apprenticeship

Your training will be kick-started by learning the elements that will keep you safe in the event of an emergency.

STCW Basic Firefighting and Fire Prevention

This practical course follows the STCW basic firefighting syllabus, allowing you to tackle fires in a variety of situations.

STCW Personal Survival Techniques

A one-day course based in the classroom and in a pool, covering essential knowledge. You will learn personal survival principles and techniques that can be applied to maximise your chances in a survival situation.

STCW Elementary First Aid

This one-day course gives foundation knowledge of the immediate action to be taken upon encountering an accident or other medical emergency.

STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities

A basic induction in safety procedures, accident prevention and familiarisation of the working environment on board merchant vessels.

STCW Proficiency in Security Awareness

This covers the necessary knowledge, understanding and proficiency for personnel intending to work on ships, who will not have any designated security duties.

RYA/MCA GMDSS Short Range Communications Certificate

A one-day course for anyone who owns or uses a fixed or hand-held marine VHF radio. The Short Range Certificate is the minimum qualification required by law, to control the operation of VHF and VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) equipment on any British flagged vessel. This includes both fixed and hand-held equipment using international channels. A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures.

STCW HELM Operational

Identifying good practice in shipboard human resource management and the importance of the ‘human element’ in shipboard operations. Applying the underpinning knowledge of related international maritime conventions and recommendations, national regulations, and codes of practice covered in other mandatory units when controlling the operation of the ship, caring for persons on board at the operational level. Applying the elements of task and workload management, including planning, co-ordination, allocation and prioritisation of human and physical resources when controlling the operation of the ship.

MCA AEC Course Certification

This course meets the requirements of the MCA Small Commercial Vessel Code, Large Vessel Code and Workboat code. The objective of the course is to provide a basic theoretical knowledge and some practical hands-on experience with diesel engines and systems.

MCA Crisis Management and Human Behaviour

Under MSN 1853 Boatmaster Regulations, the Crisis Management and Human Behaviour course can be used towards gaining the Passenger Endorsements.

Stability Course

The MCA Stability for Workboats, Pilot Boats and Small Commercial Vessels is a new one-day course, introduced by the MCA to comply with a requirement in the 2014 MCA Workboat Code for crew to attend a stability course.

RYA Powerboat Level 2 certificate

This course focuses on low-speed close quarters handling, man overboard recovery, an introduction to driving at planning speed, and collision regulations. The course can be taken inland or on the coast and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly.

Functional Skills

For those who have no evidence of attaining GCSE B or above, in English and Maths, functional skills tests will be required before completion of the apprenticeship. Functional skills will be supported throughout the apprenticeship for those needing a little extra support.

Mathematics and English

After your basic training, your main training will begin. You will have reports to keep up with from our training provider, along with a training record book, to record your service and the practical tasks you will be required to complete before achieving your Boatmasters qualification.

During your time with us, you will be working from one of our four bases, Denton, Gravesend, Barrier Gardens (Woolwich) and Richmond, with the occasional opportunity to travel to events and jobs in and around the south east.

Our training provider will be training you in one or two week periods, every three months to undertake the rest of your training.

RYA Professional Practices and Responsibilities

  • Commercial environment: how you fit into the professional maritime world.
  • People: the importance of correct manning, keeping your skills up to date and the safe management of commercial vessels.
  • Vessel: the compulsory carriage and maintenance of safety equipment, and how to create and implement risk control and operating procedures.
  • Purpose: making sure your vessel is suitable and legal for the work you are carrying out, your obligations in protecting the environment and appropriate planning and situational awareness.

RYA Day Skipper theory and practical certificate

The basics of seamanship:

The essentials of coastal navigation and pilotage, chartwork, electronic charts, position fixing, plotting a course to steer, weather forecasting and meteorology, tides, collision regulations, construction, parts and equipment of a cruising boat, emergency and safety procedures including distress calls, use of flares, safety harnesses, lifejackets and life rafts.

SQA Radar Certificate

Understanding the regulations and guidance as well as the limitations, of the use of radars found on domestic and code vessels. Being able to set up a radar system, and operate radars for navigation, including collision avoidance.

RYA Coastal Skipper theory and Yachtmaster Coastal CoC

Building on the knowledge you acquired during your Day Skipper course. A theory-based course, teaching meteorology, chartwork, tides, and other areas to support your practical training.

Practical passage planning, preparation for sea, pilotage, passage making, radar and boat handling, adverse weather conditions and emergency situations. For more information you can visit RYA online website.

SQA Electronic Chart Systems Certificate

Use of Electronic Chart Systems, interpreting information presented, understanding the capability of Electronic Chart Systems and the dangers of over-reliance as well as rules regarding the use.

STCW HELM Operational

Identifying good practice in shipboard human resource management and the importance of the ‘human element’ in shipboard operations. Applying the underpinning knowledge of related international maritime conventions and recommendations, national regulations, and codes of practice covered in other mandatory units when controlling the operation of the ship, caring for persons on board at the operational level. Applying the elements of task and workload management, including planning, co-ordination, allocation and prioritisation of human and physical resources when controlling the operation of the ship.

MCA AEC Course Certification

This course meets the requirements of the MCA Small Commercial Vessel Code, Large Vessel Code and Workboat code. The objective of the course is to provide a basic theoretical knowledge and some practical hands-on experience with diesel engines and systems.

MCA Crisis Management and Human Behaviour

Under MSN 1853 Boatmaster Regulations, the Crisis Management and Human Behaviour course can be used towards gaining the Passenger Endorsements.

Stability Course

The MCA Stability for Workboats, Pilot Boats and Small Commercial Vessels is a new one-day course, introduced by the MCA to comply with a requirement in the 2014 MCA Workboat Code for crew to attend a stability course.

During your training with the Port of London Authority you will take part in:

Emergency Exercises:

  • Man-overboard
  • Fire
  • Medical
  • Oil spill
  • Security

Working with the emergency services to ensure our training is on top form.

Thames sailing barge experience

Join us with sea change and embark on a voyage on the east coast, putting your theoretical training into practice.

Team building with other apprentices from various disciplines, taking you out of your comfort zone to enhance your training on unknown waters.

Working aboard a variety of craft, gaining experience in a range of disciplines: diving, salvage, mooring maintenance, underwater inspections, wharf services, boat lifting, load-out services, storage, driftwood and rubbish clearance, aids to navigation and pollution response. All of these, and more, are the responsibility of the PLA’s Marine Services team, along the 95-mile stretch of the river Thames.

Harbour Service Vessels

The PLA maintains an active presence on the tideway, with regular patrols by Harbour Patrol Launches between Southend and Putney (the "Lower" and "Middle" PLA districts). Special events and large ships requiring escort are also provided for by these vessels.

Pilot Boat

Be one of the first apprentices to work with our new hybrid vessel, working with innovative new technologies.

Working from Royal Terrace Pier, you could be boarding and landing pilots at Gravesend pilot station.

TOSCA

In readiness for any pollution incident, the PLA-managed Thames Oil Spill Clearance Association (TOSCA) provides a 24-hour response to oil spills between Tower Bridge and Canvey Island.

Tug

Impulse is a steel pusher tug built in 1994 by David Abels of Bristol. Used for a wide variety of driftwood and other tasks, she is equipped with a hydraulic crane and salvage pump.

Driftwood

Driftwood can be a hazard to boats navigating the Thames. Fast ferries operating at up to 22 knots can suffer significant damage if they hit a tree trunk or an old railway sleeper. To avoid this happening, we operate 16 passive driftwood collectors (PDCs) to scoop up as much floating debris from the river as we can.

London Titan

Titan’s duties include: mooring maintenance; laying and recovering navigation buoys; hauling wreckage from the riverbed; supporting diving operations; and small scale plough dredging operations. Our single-largest investment in more than 20 years, London Titan is specially designed to work along the 95 miles of the tidal Thames we look after. She is squat and shallow enough to negotiate bridges as far upriver as Richmond, and robust enough to operate in the outer estuary.

Events

Be part of the crew competing in the barge driving races held throughout the year.

Opportunities to represent the company at events and corporate work promoting our strategy and talking to the next generation of hopefuls about your experience with us.

Experience of tripping aboard ships and VTS gaining a bird’s eye view of how we operate as a port.

Take part in pilot ladder training, enabling you to trip aboard ocean-going ships, shadowing one of our pilots helping guide the vessels to their destination.

Secondments to other organisations to further your experience

Once a year we will second you to another company for a few weeks to aid your training. Learning how other companies operate and the type of work they undertake helps provide a well-rounded education in the maritime sector.

You will gain insight into passenger operations, cargo and towing.

Forklift licence

Our Denton site is a commercially operated yard, where we not only undertake refit and surveys of our own craft we equally look after our customers too. You will gain the experience and the licences to make it possible for you to become an active team player in our operations.

Crane licence

Operating cranes aboard our craft as well as our quayside crane, you will gain all the training you need to operate them safely, with confidence.

Advanced First Aid training

Given our statuary obligations as a harbour authority, we have to make sure our crews are highly trained to deal with any situations that may present.