Any Boatmasters out there?

T

TheBoatman

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I've just re-validated my BM licence and got back one of the new jobbies that looks more like a passport than a licence!

The new licence talks about Tier 2 but I can find nothing, either in the licence or on the MCA web site as to what tier 2 is?

Can anyone enlighten me?

When I got my first licence back in '83 it only covered Ramsgate north & westwards to Reculvers and southwards to Dover but I could carry 250 passengers. After the Marchioness incident and the MCA re-vamped the coding I elected to go for the reduced passengers but increased area of operation ~ hence my licence was endorsed to "area Cat 2" 60 NM etc, etc.

I've always assumed that the 60NM from Ramsgate is an arc drawn from Ramsgate harbour entrance?

Am I wrong?

Any help would be appreciated.

Peter.
The Boatman.
 
I think you will find it is 60nm as a direct sailing route taking into account going around headlands etc, rather than as the crow flies from the port you leave from.
 
I think tier 2 is a National licence, but things are up in the air again, as I am led to believe that the MCA has mucked things up in that no new licences have been issued since Feb 2007, as the new written exam hasn't been written yet. As a face saving exercise by the MCA, a new exemption course has been devised as an interim measure. The exemption given is not a licence, but applies to a named vessel and allows the named person who has passed the exemption course to be in charge of the vessel without a boatmaster licence holder being present. The exemption lasts for 3 years, during which time the person named on the exemption has to sit a new style boatmaster exam, when, and assuming that, the MCA have got around to compiling it.
Existing licence holders have grandfather rights and automatically receive a new licence at renewal.
CJ
 
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A few years ago a friend of mine left the family in the car parked outside while he nipped in to get his Boatmasters renewed.

His SWMBO was a bit peed off when he came out an hour later after being made to do an oral exam.

I read up a bit before going in to do mine a little while later but was in and out in 5 minutes with a new 5 year stamp.

MCA seems to make up the rules as they go along.
 
CJ
I must have the grandfather rights because as I said in my original post I have just re-validated both my BM & YM licences ~ it took about 2 weeks from my applying to get the new ones back.

I've tried looking all over the MCA site and it's a nightmare, I even asked it to search for Tier 2 and it found nothing ~ dahhhhhh.
As for the 60nm ~ my nominated safe haven is Ramsgate and because there seems to be a difference of opinion on how you actually calculate it and to be on the safe side I'm going to assume it's passage length and not crow flying stuff!!!!!

Peter.
 
Don't even go there! I have the old Grade 2 style and was offered a job that needs the new Tier 1, level 2 but no one at the MCA could tell me how to go about upgrading.

All I got from them was loads of irrelevent M notices and the suggestion I sent it in for renewal and see what comes back!!

W.
 
As I said, the MCA have cocked up big style, they did away with the old system in Feb 2007. The new system is still not in place.........Such incompetence could only happen within a government department.
CJ
 
The new licence talks about Tier 2 but I can find nothing, either in the licence or on the MCA web site as to what tier 2 is?
========================================

Tier 2 is the old Grade 1.

Tier 1, which doesn't yet really exist, is the European Waters certificate, which has not yet been agreed.
 
Interesting to note that almost four years on, the new tier 2 level 2 licence is still not up and running!
CJ
 
I'm glad I live in Oz, because here your drivers licence covers not just what vehicles you are allowed drive but also your boat licence.

No papers or certificates to carry either. Well other that Offshore Masters ticket in my case, but I have never ever been asked to produce it.

Good luck and fair winds. :)
 
oldsaltoz said:
I'm glad I live in Oz, because here your drivers licence covers not just what vehicles you are allowed drive but also your boat licence.
Click to expand...

I'm glad I don't live in Oz, because here I don't need a "boat license" :p

(The people talking in the old thread above are commercial mariners operating local ferries, sightseeing boats, etc)

Pete
 
oldsaltoz said:
I'm glad I live in Oz, because here your drivers licence covers not just what vehicles you are allowed drive but also your boat licence.

No papers or certificates to carry either. Well other that Offshore Masters ticket in my case, but I have never ever been asked to produce it.

Good luck and fair winds. :)
Click to expand...
Wow, nice, simple, convenient whoever would have thunk it.
 
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