Archive for September, 2009
September 23rd, 2009 | 
Author: So Who Needs To Do Stcw95 Crew Basis Training.?????
Here I am going to explore the realities and the myths that surround this subject. I shall start with a simple answer to the above question; the answer is NO! and also YES!
Oh dear! Now I sound like a lawyer. So lets start with the legal facts.who LEGALLY must attend basic training? Thats easy to answer for some people. Anyone who wishes to obtain a Yacht Rating Certificate an Officer of the Watch Chief Mate or Masters certificate or anyone who wishes to attend the Medical First Aid course or gain a Certificate of Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue boats on a luxury yacht charter must obtain the relevant basic training module before they can even be admitted to the advanced course.
As far as the other members of the crew are concerned Section 6.1 of the STCW convention states clearly that :
seafarers employed or engaged in any capacity on board on the business of the ship as part of the ships compliment with designated safety or pollution prevention duties shall before being assigned any shipboard duties attend 4 element basic training
So in fact the rules have stopped short of formally requiring all yacht crew to attend as an automatic requirement. They have said that all crew who have a nominated role in the emergency organisation should attend 4 element basic training. So what does THAT mean?
It is possible to imagine that on a luxury yacht charter with a crew of maybe 1500 there could be a few of them spare in an emergency but in a yacht crew of say 15 it is hard to imagine someone without something to do in an emergency! It means that nannies masseurs secretaries butlers and security guards etc. do not need to do basic training but practically speaking everyone else does.
But to hell with legal requirements! Basic training is not about legal technicalities. It is about YOUR safety and the safety of your fellow crew members and your guests. The MCA place a lot of emphasis on the importance of this programme and you should note the recent comments by the Chief Examiner Captain Roger Towner at a PYA seminar to the effect that they consider that five full days of instruction are needed as a minimum for the course material to be properly presented. A course provider in Budapest was specifically mentioned as being sub standard; using videos instead of practical training they ran all four courses plus Crisis Management and Crowd Control in one weekend! Dont sell yourself short train properly!
Dont forget that basic training is only the first step in gaining the professional knowledge that new crew need to be safe and effective team members; the other key element is the yacht specific training that should be organised on board.
So in the end the answer is an emphatic YES! Those who have not taken their basic training courses already find it difficult to find work whether on large yachts or small. Management companies and crew are all making it a requirement. But the thing to remember is that there is a reason for this: these courses are genuinely REALLY IMPORTANT!
About the writer: www.bluewateryachting.com Luxury yacht charter mediterranean and carribean
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So What Exactly Is An Assistant Engineer?
What is it?
The concept of an Assistant Engineer was not invented for the yachting industry but has been adapted from merchant navy practice. The Assistant Engineer is someone carried in the complement of a yacht who though not certified to be responsible for the operation and maintenance of plant has enough knowledge to be of use to the Chief Engineer in carrying out many routine operations such as changing filters transferring liquids doing routine maintenance tasks starting and stopping machinery. It is also intended that if anything were to happen to the Chief Engineer then the Assistant would have enough knowledge to get the yacht safely back in to harbour.
It is important to remember this role is only intended for yachts operating with an Unmanned Machinery Space UMS: vessels requiring traditional watchkeeping will have to carry a minimum of two STCW qualified engineers. The person holding this position does not necessarily need to be someone who actually works full time in the Engineering Department they could be a deck hand the mate or someone from another department. Deck candidates take note however that in their case the service credited will not be counted at full rate but will be split equally between deck and engineering service.
Why did the MCA introduce this role?
The MCA considered that there was a need to enhance the Engineering Department in the smaller yachts and it was also recognised that on the larger yachts with UMS operating on coastal voyages the Second Engineer was not being fully employed and could be safely replaced with an Assistant Engineer.
By using an Assistant Engineer in these positions a pathway is opened to enable holders of AEC and MEOLY see below to gain useful experience on larger yachts on their way to gaining their Y4 qualifications.
As the Assistant Engineer can be a dual role position a byproduct of this change is a reduction in the salary bill whilst maintaining an acceptable standard of engineering expertise on board. This is important particularly on smaller yachts where no increase in actual numbers is required but engineering expertise is enhanced.
What qualification do you need to be one.?
Those who have been required by an MCA inspection to get an Assistant Engineer will know that nowhere does it say exactly what qualifications are needed for this role! This is because LY2 is relatively new and MGN 156 which would normally have this information is too old. By calling the MCA you can find out that in fact the Approved Engine Course and the MEOL Y are the two key requirements depending on the engine power of the yacht and where it wants to go. Obviously general service merchant navy qualifications are also accepted
I have suggested to the MCA that they rename the Approved Engine Course the Assistant Engineers Course because the existing title does not describe adequately the course content which does not just concern engines. Keeping the initials the same will also save me from having to reprint our publicity! The table below gives guidance on what qualifications could be required for the Assistant Engineer under various circumstances. Always bear in mind that these tables in LY2 and in MGNs were not handed down to the Chief Examiner on marble tablets like Moses on the mountain. Often this is misunderstood by senior crew and managers; they are GUIDANCE and can be varied either relaxed or toughened in particular circumstances. A good example of this has already been mentioned: a yacht requiring a permanently staffed engine room would not be allowed to run with an Assistant Engineer whatever it says on tables like the one below.
The Master of a yacht not the Chief Examiner is responsible for the safe manning of the vessel so if he or she is in any doubt they should ask for an opinion from the Seafarers Training and Certification department of the MCA.
This table is an assimilation of LY2 and the current interpretation of engineering manning rules. Remember it is only applicable to vessels where the engine room is operated on an UMS basis.
About the writer:
About the writer: Whether you need a luxury yacht charter in the South of France for corporate yacht charter business yacht charter or crewed yacht charter we guarantee your luxury yacht charter will be a memorable experience. Blue Water Yachting offers an exclusive range of luxury charter yachts in the South of France.
South African Safari Accommodation: Kruger National Park Lodges
Kruger National Park Lodges
The park which covers a huge area of South Africa is made up of individual Kruger National Park lodges which form the community of tourism and conservation in the area.
These individual privately owned reserves each cover thousands of hectares of unspoiled land and are always striking creating an illusion that much of the accommodation has been carved out of the natural landscape.
The cultures of South Africa are well represented at the various Kruger National Park Lodges with the vast majority of staff being of local heritage. From the concierge to the game rangers and trackers the lodges cater to the whims of global travellers without losing the diverse yet distinct South African charm.
What To Do at A Kruger National Park Lodge?
Once you arrive at your Kruger National Park lodge of choice deciding what to do first will come naturally but here are some ideas to get you in the African safari adventure mindset:
- Go for a nature walk at dusk.
- Enjoy the overwhelming population of stars in the African night sky.
- Cross as many indigenous African birds as possible off your list.
- Relax and unwind with a spa treatment.
Take a woodfuelled openair bush shower.
Tuck into exquisite African cuisine.
Relax in a hammock in the harmony of the wilderness.
Spend time with your travel companions and maybe new friends around a camp fire.
Take a microlight flight helicopter flip or hot air balloon ride to get a birds eye view of the many Kruger National Park lodges and their surrounding beauty.
Blending home comforts with the indigenous style and grace of the African outback at Kruger National Park Lodges be it in a chalet hut or on even camping and caravanning grounds the intimacy and curiosities of the African wilderness are sure to tug at your heart strings.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;About The Author:Umlani Bushcamp located in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve is one of the greatest Kruger National Park lodges on offer. You will enjoy an authentic Big Five African safari while you take in daily game drives and guided walking tours designed to keep even the most courageous of explorers occupied and entertained.http://www.umlani.com