ML5 Advice

[williamhorace336]

I'm in the process of Commercially Endorsing my PB2 with a view to picking up some voluntary work.

Can anyone advise what the working limitations are for this qualification?

eg. miles from Departure Point, upto how many miles offshore, longest length of trip and maximum number of passengers to be carried?

Thank you

Ian

[Rogue Wave]

Originally Posted by williamhorace336

I'm in the process of Commercially Endorsing my PB2 with a view to picking up some voluntary work.

Can anyone advise what the working limitations are for this qualification?

eg. miles from Departure Point, upto how many miles offshore, longest length of trip and maximum number of passengers to be carried?

Thank you

Ian

3 miles from NDP and up to 12 passengers, if you are working off a mothership that can be regarded as an NDP

[Solent Ranger]

Originally Posted by williamhorace336

I'm in the process of Commercially Endorsing my PB2 with a view to picking up some voluntary work.

Can anyone advise what the working limitations are for this qualification?

eg. miles from Departure Point, upto how many miles offshore, longest length of trip and maximum number of passengers to be carried?

Thank you

Ian

You are limited to 3 miles from a nominated departure point. So not very far if you are operating out of Poole.

[Ribochet]

With a Powerboat Level 2 you will be restricted to MCA Category 6 which covers to sea within 3 miles from a nominated departure point(s) named in the vesels certificate and never more than 3 miles from land, in favourable weather and daylight.

You can check whether the area of operation is at "sea" by checking out Categorisation of waters MSN 1776 (M) produced by the MCA

[williamhorace336]

Thanks Chaps!

Seems very limiting.

Am I best pushing for Adv with CofC? or is there work available in the Solent area with PB2 Endorsed?

[Ribochet]

The Commerical endorsment of the Advanced Powerboat certificate will open up many more opprotunities to you as it can be used up to Category 3 which covers up to 20 miles from a safe haven - night or day.

Along with the AP cert you must also successfully complete a separate RYA/MCA Advanced Powerboat exam.

[Polwart]

William,

What nobody has highlighted is that whilst the nominated departure point is usually assumed to be the jetty/slipway you leave from, if that is within categorised waters then the NDP is the edge of the categorised waters. Much of the Solent is categorised waters so a commercial PB2 could operate over quite a wide area.

Some things to think about:

- virtually anyone can get a PB2 in a weekend.
- virtually anyone can get it commercially endorsed from courses which are essentially about attendance not comprehension.
- the potential to cause harm to your passengers, even in the solent, is quite high.
- there are quite a lot of Commercial Advanced PB holders around; some people aren't that impressed with their skills, but it is definitely a higher hurdle to go through than PB2.

So:

- if you were the operator of a charter business would you choose to engage an PB2 or and Advanced PB holder?
- if you were going to engage someone you 'didn't know' would you be more or less likely to do it with someone who has the bare minimum qualifications?
- if you do find an operator who is "that desperate" for staff would you want to work for them?

That said, I think Anchorhandler said on here that some of his tug skippers were operating with PB2 tickets. However, I assume the refinery don't just hand over the keys to anyone who turns up with a certificate.

[williamhorace336]

Polwart,

Interesting and very valuable reading, thank you.

[Rogue Wave]

Originally Posted by Ribochet

With a Powerboat Level 2 you will be restricted to MCA Category 6 which covers to sea within 3 miles from a nominated departure point(s) named in the vesels certificate and never more than 3 miles from land, in favourable weather and daylight.

You can check whether the area of operation is at "sea" by checking out Categorisation of waters MSN 1776 (M) produced by the MCA

Are you saying that A mothership can't be a nominated departure point or am I reading this wrong?

[Doug Stormforce]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Are you saying that A mothership can't be a nominated departure point or am I reading this wrong?

Stu

The key points are that the NDP must be named on the vessel's SCV cert and the vessel can never be more than three miles from land.

Having a mothership or offshore installation (within 3 miles of shore) as a NDP is not common but is possible for cat 5 and cat 6.