Commercial Licence?

[Naked Dave]

Can anyone give me the truth about Commercial Licences?
I have heard so many different stories and half truths, I'm not sure what to believe.

What exactly do you need, qualification wise? Powerboat Advanced? Dayskipper Theory? Membership in the Magic Circle??

So far I have My level 3(RYA Safety boater), VHF/SRC and Sea Survival.

Also, what are the changes coming into effect around Sepember/October this year and how do the affect potental operators like myself?

The MCA site is very confusing.......

[tim griffin]

from the instructors news letter
"Proposal for January 2005 Commercial endorsement of the existing Advanced course completion certificate to cease and be replaced by an exam. This will bring the Powerboat scheme into line with the cruising scheme" for commercial endorsement now you will need your advanced ticket, a sea survival ticket, a first aid, and vhf and undergo a M.C.A medical the porposals come into effect in possibly 2005 so should be no problem in gaining a commercial endorsement now if you have all the above , hope this helps.
regards
Tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

[Ian]

It depends on where you want to operate as well. Can't you obtain a commercial ticket with a PB2 for upto 3 miles from an NDP? You could before the new changes therefore you wouldn't need your Advanced. You still need the other cert's though.

[tim griffin]

yes you can but that is used for local authority boatmans license
and as such it will restrict you in your operating area , if you want to work in the commercial field you must have your advanced ticket, with commercial endorsement no one will touch you without it the boatmans license is more for harbour launches
and taxi's it all boils down to what you want to do.
tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

[tim griffin]

yes you can but that is used for local authority boatmans license
and as such it will restrict you in your operating area , if you want to work in the commercial field you must have your advanced ticket, with commercial endorsement no one will touch you without it the boatmans license is more for harbour launches
and taxi's it all boils down to what you want to do.
tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

[DGR]

The draft MCA coding info (which will eventually replace the Yellow(?) and Brown(?) Codes) states that you need First Aid, Sea Survival, VHF and a valid medical certificate regardless of your PB qualifications.

You can get PB2 endorsed for Cat 6 waters (3 nmiles form an NDP) - providing that you have 12 months experience - in which experience isn't defined!!

For Cat 5 or above you need at least Advanced PB, but for the higher categories you might need further qualifications.

By far the biggest issue is the amount of stuff you need to carry (and buy) for your boat to get coded, even for Cat 6 waters. A life raft? Blimey...

Dylan...

[Pete7]

Think the liferaft for a commerical boat is quite valid. Afterall a petrol engined rib could just as likely catch fire as a fishing charter boat although paying £500 a year does hurt.


Pete

[Paul Glatzel]

Dave

According to the MCA’s revised small craft code the following is where it is at re commercial endorsements:

Firstly consider under what ‘Cat’ you will be operating

Area Category 6 - to sea, within 3 miles from a nominated departure point(s) named in the certificate and never more than 3 miles from land, in favourable weather and daylight;

Area Category 5 - up to 20 miles from a nominated departure point named in the certificate in favourable weather and daylight.

Area Category 4 - Up to 20 miles from a safe haven, in favourable
weather and in daylight;

Area Category 3 - Up to 20 miles from a safe haven;

Area Category 2 - Up to 60 miles from a safe haven;(N/A for RIBs)

Area Category 1 - Up to 150 miles from a safe haven; (N/A for RIBs)

Area Category 0 – Unrestricted service. (N/A for RIBs)

The qualifications are valid as per below:

This document explains what you need to endorse the certificate:




So if you have Level 2 you can commercially endorse it, whether you want to get Advanced will depend on your intended area of operation.

As Tim rightly states it is changing from Jan 2005 and you will no longer be able to commercially endorse the Advanced but will need to sit an exam (theory & practical) instead.

Hope this helps

Paul

PS: There are a number of similar threads on this subject so worth a search for.

[DGR]

...I agree, but doesn't it depend what you are doing with the boat?

If you are running a charter, 20 nmiles off the coast, then yes, completely agree, liferafts all round.

BUT - a couple of people, in Cat 6 waters, in a tidal estuary, not far from land, everyone in life jackets anyway, etc, etc, etc? Not convinced.

Also, the RIBs that I've done courses on (in the last 18 months) didn't have ANY of the MCA coding kit on - and certainly no life raft - but unless I've misunderstood the new regs (which is a distinct possiblity!!), they will soon have to.

Dylan...

[Redbay Rover]

What about the new intermediate powerboat course? Which catergory will that allow you to operate in?