Commercial Endorsent - RYA Survival

[pau1gray]

I was just wondering of anyone knew what is so special about the RYA sea survival course????

I work in the offshore industry, working on oil rigs and various other vessels. One of the stipulation before getting on any vessel is that my offshore tickets are valid.

The course we have to do covers alot. Elfin Safety Stuff, First Aid, Helicopter escape, Sea Survival and Firefighting. This is covered over 3 days. As we work in other areas (outside the UK) we also have to have a 2 day add on which covers mainly Norwegian laws (for the Norwegian Elfin Safety blokes), more sea survival, firefighting and first aid (an extra 2 days).

These courses are only valid for 4 years and I must requalify (read attend!!) a refresher in order to continue working. (Unlike the RYA course!)

I recently got my coastal skipper and looking on the RYA site - I can get my ticket commercially endorsed - this would give us another skipper for any charter work we can pick up at our Plymouth facility.

So I need a medical and an RYA Basic Sea Survival course.

All well and good so far.

Contacted the RYA and apparently the sea survval I have done is no good - I need to do the RYA course or an STCW95 approved course. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Any thought on how to proceed with this other than spending the money to attend the course?? I'm not saying that a refresher would do any harm, but, I'd arreciate if anyone knows what the difference is between the sea survival that I've done (which seems to cover the same syllabus!!) and the RYA course?

Ta

 

[Hurricane]

This is the RYA at its best.
In my experience, if they can screw up anything to do with boats, they will.
They are only after their own backs and do nothing for their actual members.
In the past I have actually had to fight them to put on an event that is actually in their remit to support.

Dont talk to ME about the RYA.
A complete waste of space.

 

[eastendendeavour]

How much is the RYA course?

Sam

 

[Wiggo]

about £100 at Southampton Water Activities Centre.

 

[chanelyacht]

Paul,

Have you asked the RYA about equivalency? Alternatively, try talking to Seafarer Standards at the MCA - I'm not sure how your (internal company?) course differs from STCW.

It does seem a little silly I must admit, but I've always found the RYA helpful to talk to.

They may not be brilliant all the time, but I don't think they justify the rant expressed by another contributor.

 

[Tugw]

I got the same reaction from them, 12 years serving in warships and then close to 20 years in the offshore business with all manner of sea safety and survival certificates all internationaly recognised.But not by the RYA. I agree with Hurricane.

 

[peterb26]

I'm a big RYA fan - since I have had to deal with them following my instructor course. They have always been unbelievably helpful, and so my view is completely the opposite of Hurricanes above.

I should do as ChannelYAcht suggests and pursue the RYA a little more. Go up the chain a bit until you know that they are not going to accept your own Sea Survival cert.

If this all fails then SWAC do a course for £75.

Heres the link:-

SWAC sea survival

 

[Alert]

The RYA does not decide which Sea Survival certificates are acceptable for the commercial endorsement. The MCA does. The MCA will not accept an OPITO certificate.

 

[photodog]

Welcome!!!

The world needs more Lerts!

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[alant]

The MCA will not accept an OPITO certificate.
____________________________________________

What's an OPITO??

I have a similar, but reverse query & response from MCA, when asking them if my current Sea Survival Cert, which has been acceptable for more years than I will admit too, for Commercial Endorsement purposes by their franchisee (RYA), is acceptable under STCW95.

They were equally 'unhelpful' & unable to make a decision, so have decided to do the STCW95 one at Warsash.

 

[Kawasaki]

Wasserk /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif