boat captains licence??

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novicex

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Hi all,
I'm not sure if this is the right place for these question, or if tthey have been answered else where, but here it goes!!
What sort of licence do I need to operate a commercial boat for taking paying customers?
II assume that there is some sort of course to be taken so where and how much are the obvious questions.
Are the licences valid in Europe or is another licence required.
The boat in question is a 6m Zodiac (or similar) for 12-16 people.
I am an absolute boating novice who is fast approaching his 40th and a mid life crisis means I'm looking for a new direction to take. A boating opportunity has arisen and I'm trying to work out if it's feasible or not!
I hope someone can point me in the right direction.

Cheers
 
I can only speak of requirements here in West Oz however I believe they are by international agreement. Commercial Master's tickets are by training, examination and by showing experience. I know for a masters class 4( or was that 6) which is the bottom requirement we have to show 100 hours sea time in the last 2 years and that ticket only allows you to operate a small vessel in commercial work but not taking paying passengers.
Further the vessel needs to be surveyed for passenger work which requires check for condition and safety equipment etc every one or 2 seasons.
So sorry I think you will find it fairly time consuming to get into this work. olewill
 
Hi, welcome to the forum /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The boaty things are not really going to be the problem, I think.

The problem is that driving fun boats for a living is fun and loads of people want to do it....there are more people wanting to do it than there are people who want to be driven. That said, there are obviously opportunities.

The reason for my caution is that I have seen a good friend in a similar 'mid-life' thingy throw trillions of pounds at helicopter training to become a CPL and instructor. He got the quals but not the work /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

In your case the cost of getting the quals will be a tiny fraction of that but buying into a boat business needs very careful scrutiny, especially if you are not 'boaty' at the outset. It would be very easy for a non-boaty person to get the wool pulled over....

Good luck whatever you decide to do.
 
How about working as an assistant for a few weekends to help get to know the business/ market - & if you could stick it when the weather is cold, windy & wet?
I love summer sailing in good weather, and you can get lovely days out of season, but having to do it regardless of weather/ conditions is not so nice, ask any surviving deep water fisherman!
 
My advice would be, once you know exactly what it is you intent doing in every detail, present it to the mcga, and they might be the best place to get advice regarding qualifications from.
 
Re: boat captains license??

Depends what and where, but sounds as though you may need a Local Authority Boatman's License. This is in the gift of the local council. Try their Licensing Officer.
 
Re: boat captains license??

Hi there, and welcome to the forum.

As a commeercially licensed yachtmaster I can tell you that the best route to follow is to check with the RYA and then take a coure to gain some experience as well as essential training. You as skipper taking 12 or more persons on the water have a serious responsibilty re their safety and welfare and also need to have the expereince to know what to do should something go wrong.

Having got the experience then if you want to trade commercially you will need to get a boatmans licesnse from the local harbour authority where you intend to operate. They will advise further on what they require from you as well as assessing your experience.

As I said do not forget that as skipper it is down to YOU to ensure the safety of your passengers and your ultimate responsibility if it all goes wrong.

Good luck and don't be put off.
 
[ QUOTE ]
What sort of licence do I need to operate a commercial boat for taking paying customers?

[/ QUOTE ]

As an absolute minimum to "commercially" operate a boat of the size you are referring to you will need the Powerboat Level 2 certificate which can be commercially endorsed, but is only valid for up to 3 miles from your base of operation. The main "licence" that you would require is an MCA commercially endorsed Advanced Powerboat certificate, and frankly as a "novice boater" it is not something that you can get overnight. You will need at least 800 nms logged including night passages. You will also need a VHF certificate, sea survival certificate and a 1st aid qualification - the one day RYA 1st aid course for example.

The YM commercial endorsement has been mentioned, and that is even tougher/longer to get and is really for boats over 10 metres.

[ QUOTE ]
II assume that there is some sort of course to be taken so where and how much are the obvious questions.

[/ QUOTE ]

The basic Level 2 powerboat course via us is £250 and is a 2 day course run on our 7m Ribcraft which is also coded for 8 people.


[ QUOTE ]
Are the licences valid in Europe or is another licence required.

[/ QUOTE ]

If the boat is UK registered then yes, if it is registered in another country then no!


[ QUOTE ]
The boat in question is a 6m Zodiac (or similar) for 12-16 people.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think so!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif That will be severely overloading the boat and in any case, if you wish to operate as part of a business the vessel will have to be coded to MCA specifications and there is no way that you will get coded for that number of people on that size rib. Secondly, even a commercially endorsed YM only allows for a maximum of 12 passengers!


[ QUOTE ]
I am an absolute boating novice who is fast approaching his 40th and a mid life crisis means I'm looking for a new direction to take. A boating opportunity has arisen and I'm trying to work out if it's feasible or not!
I hope someone can point me in the right direction.


[/ QUOTE ]


Yes, it's feasible but will take you around 3 years minimum, and that assumes you will have regular access to a suitable boat. Not only is there the practical side to consider, but you will need to have a good working knowledge of navigation etc to at least Day Skipper theory just to get to the Advanced Powerboat certificate, let alone then having to take an exam, both practical and theory, to get your Advanced Powerboat commercial endorsement.


If you would like to chat things through, then send me a PM. Welcome to the forum by the way!
 
Re: boat captains license??

[ QUOTE ]
Depends what and where, but sounds as though you may need a Local Authority Boatman's License. This is in the gift of the local council. Try their Licensing Officer.

[/ QUOTE ] Only for craft carrying a maximum of ( IIRC) twelve people. To carry more than 12 passengers requires what used to be a DOT licence which when I left the industry 13 years ago entitled me to skipper vessels up to a certain size and passenger capacity within a defined area. In those days the test consisted a verbal examination of around half an hour, which included safety regulations and procedures specific to the operation of our boats, a fairly comprehensive test of my knowledge of local waters - had to be able to name from memory the location of various nav hazards, and had to be able to identify from memory key navigational marks - buoys, light characteristics etc. This was followed by a practical test of my boat handling skills - berthing, and various manoevers. In those days, if you carried more than 12 passengers, you also had to have a 1 crewman on board. I had to demonstarte considerable degree of paractical experience: 25 years skippering my own boat was regarded at the time as an absolute minimum qualification, which barely met the requirement. I have no doubt that nowadays it would be entirely insufficient.

Since the Marchioness reports came out, a most things have been tightened up a great deal

The first thing will be to go to the Harbour Master in whose area you intend to operate, and fnd out whether he will permit your proposed operations - if he will not, you are wasting your time, and there is little or no way round that one. If he is happy for you to set up a commercial operation in his port then he can advise you exactly what requirements you have to meet, what qualifications you require, and any local regulations affecting your operation.

But be aware that HMs although they are pleasant enough to yotties who are helping to support the harbour, take a much tougher line with anyone seeking to operate commercially, and will be watching you very carefully as an 'amateur' in a tough and unforgiving professional environment. He has wide ranging power to inspect and stop any commercial vessel, and will not hesitate to use it if he feels there is any compromise to safety in your operation. he will know at first hand that the cost of mistakes or sloppy operational procedures is measured in lives lost, and will need convincing that you are capable of maintaining the highest professional standards in every respect.

Next, if you are carrying more than 12 passengers, the vessel itself has to be licensed. A Local Authority licence is (was) granted following a full survey of the vessel and its safety equipment and procedures by a localy appointed surveyor. For higher passenger capacities, the regulations are the same as for any commercial vessel working either in sheltered waters (Class V) , or in a defined sea area (Class VI) , and are subject to detailed and stringent checks not only on safety gear and procedures, but stability, construction, fuel storeage etc etc. Go to the MCA website and have a look a 'Detentions' Your boat will be subject to the same regulations as any British registered vessel from the QM2 down.

Next, you will have to have a range of 'Risk Assesments' in place, drawn up in the correct form, and approved by the licencing authority.

...and of course you must be insured for around £2m PER PASSENGER

And all this info is out of date /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif - it will certainly be a lot more stringent than it was when I was involved. But I pass it on to give you some idea of what you are taking on.

If you are still interested, your first stop has to be the Harbour Master, as without his support you will never get permission to start.
 
welcome to the forums

I find this [ QUOTE ]
The boat in question is a 6m Zodiac (or similar) for 12-16 people

[/ QUOTE ] a little surprising - would you care to clarify? this seems a rather large number of people for a 6m boat and sub 12 I believe the qualifications / licence requirements are different?
I am guessing that you are looking at some sort of ferry operation and that would certainly have me looking at the local authority requirements first and foremost, as already highlighted.

A little more precise information may well get you a more precise response.
 
Re: boat captains license??

I looked at working commercially on pilot and tugs lats year.

I am a commercial Yacht Master instructor and up to a few years ago this would have been enough to get me up and working.

The laws at present are this.

Less than 12 passengers can be a Commercial YM or a Local authourity Boat Masters Licence. The later is eaiser to get then the full YM.

Over 12 passengers or acting in ferry, tug or pilot boat work is a Coast Guard Boat Masters licence. This is a full test from a MCG examiner. You get tested on the actual boat you will work upon. You need at least two years experience on the same type of boat as you will work.

Your path is full of hoops to jump through wth people all wanting money on the way.


I gave up as i could get no sense form the MCG. They said i had to sit exams in nav and chart work and VHF exams. When i pointed out that i have already taken and passes them to a higher standard than they required this totally threw them.

The system seems to be designed for deck hands to become skippers.
 
Re: boat captains license??

"or a Local authourity Boat Masters"

This is not issued by them, but by MCA, following a driving test on the actual vessel & oral exam.

Local Authorities issue 'Boatman's' Licences
 
Come on guys! We are talking about a 6 metre rib or equivalent!! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Not a tug or anything else! The guy is a novice and to get anywhere near being allowed to skipper a boat for 12-16 passengers is going to take him years, not weeks or even months!! Get real! There is also no way that any boat of 6 metres will be coded for the number of people he is talking about (not in this country anyway), not to mention that any skipper worth his salt would not even contemplate taking that number out. Even if it was, the life raft requirement would take up so much space that where the hell would the passengers sit? Our 7 metre rib is Cat 3 coded for 8 - that's 7 passengers and the helm/skipper. We carry an 8 man life raft in front of the helm seat - bugger all space for it anywhere else. The 7.8 metre Ribcraft does have space in the stern, but the boat is still only coded for 8!

The issuing of "local codeing" is now falling under the auspice of the MCA code and that is much stricter than any the local code in that a life raft must be carried.

If people are going to post, then at least talk about the issues of the original post and then look at reality! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Welcome /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif


As has been said earlier there are alot of us out here with whom you can do your courses, and are available to help via PM.

You will find that for the size of vessel you are speaking of 8 would be a more comfortable option.

Enjoy your learning, it makes for better seamanship out on the water. Spend as much time on the water as poss. And NEVER EVER STOP ASKING QUESTION'S, AND CHECKING YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR BEING TAUGHT IS GOING IN!!!!!

You can't get better experience than being out there. Remember, we all walk before we can run, it's safer and cheaper.

Good Luck

Al Jones /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Bless you /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I did mean the new guy!!!! Realised I replied to you and not 'im.

Soz /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: boat captains license??

[ QUOTE ]


Good luck and don't be put off.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you are not put off by now, you jolly well should be. As an admitted inexperienced amateur this seems like a complete non-starter. Boating, of any nature, is not romantic, it is rarely enjoyable (although we pretend it is) and never safe - no matter how many precautions you may take or qualifications you may have. I have been sailing for thiry odd years now and I confess to being totally in awe at the power of the sea.

I am sorry to say this, and it is nothing personal, but the rules are there for good reason.
 
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