Due to its convergence status, Cornwall has its own ring fenced pot of money for fishermen to attend courses that make up the 16.5m skippers ticket FREE OF CHARGE and towards Certificates of Competency. Fishermen based outside of Cornwall are able to access funding from a separate pot.

The MCA have advised that in the future, it is likely to be a mandatory requirement for all skippers of fishing vessels of less than 16.5m registered length to hold the full ticket AND with the exception of vessels of less than 24m operating in the limited area, only persons holding a Certificate of Competency as a Deck Officer or a 5 day Bridge Watchkeeping Course should be in charge of a navigational watch.

With funding only currently confirmed to last until March 31st 2011, we wish to urge fishermen to take advantage of this funding while it lasts and to contact Seafood Cornwall Training to register for courses planned for the New Year, in Cornwall.

Since February 2009, Seafood Cornwall Training, a "not for profit" company has enabled 166 fishermen to complete 366 certificates in Intermediate Stability, Bridge Watchkeeping, Engine Room Watchkeeping and GMDSS SRC, in the county and free of charge. A further 734 certificates have been issued to fishermen completing mandatory Basic Safety Training in Cornwall*

Click here for courses scheduled for the New Year sct_training_dates_jan_2011.pdf

Fishermen who complete the following will receive a Skippers Certificate for Under 16.5m Vessels up to 20 miles:

1 day Basic Health and Safety course*
1 day Basic Sea Survival course*
1 day Basic Fire Fighting and Prevention course*
1 day Basic First Aid course*
1 day Safety Awareness course*

2 day Seafish Bridge Watchkeeping course
1 day Diesel Engine course
1 day Stability Awareness course.
1 day GMDSS Short Range Certificate course (VHF)

(As an alternative to the 2 day Seafish Bridge Watch keeping course, a Boatmaster's Licence or 5 day RYA /DfT Yachtmaster Coastal Course Certificate is also accepted.)

Fishermen who complete the following will receive a Skippers Certificate for Under 16.5m Vessels beyond 20 miles:

1 day Basic Health and Safety course*
1 day Basic Sea Survival course*
1 day Basic Fire Fighting and Prevention course*
1 day Basic First Aid course*
1 day Safety Awareness course*

5 day Seafish Bridge Watchkeeping course
2 day Seafish Engine Room Watchkeeping course
1 day Stability Awareness Course.
1 day GMDSS Short Range Certificate course (VHF)

(As an alternative to the 5 day Seafish Bridge Watchkeeping course, a RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competency is also accepted).

ACCEPTANCE OF UNDER 16.5M SKIPPERS CERTIFICATES FOR SMALL COMMERCIAL VESSEL OPERATIONS
Under 16.5m Skippers Certificate (beyond 20 miles) may be used on Small Commercial Vessels operating up to Area Category 3 (up to 20 miles from a safe haven);
Under 16.5m Skippers Certificate (up to 20 miles) may be used on Small Commercial Vessels operating up to Area Category 6 (up to 3 miles from a nominated departure point named in the certificate and never more than 3 miles from land, in favourable weather and daylight).
Small Commercial Vessels are defined as a vessel of less than 24m in load line length, or a vessel of less than 150 tons, which are engaged at sea in activities on a commercial basis which carry cargo and/or not more than 12 passengers or provide a service in which neither cargo nor passengers are carried, or are UK pilot boats.

SUMMARY OF BASIC SAFETY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS ON ALL FISHING VESSELS

New Entrants

A new entrant is defined as a person who is for the first time gainfully employed or engaged as a crew member on a commercial fishing vessel registered in the United Kingdom.
Before starting work as a fisherman all new entrants must have completed the following course:
1 day Basic Sea Survival.

Within 3 months of starting work, all new entrant fishermen must complete the following additional courses:
1 day Basic Fire Fighting and Prevention;
1 day Basic First Aid; and
1 day Basic Health and Safety (only required of new entrants after 01 January 2005).

Upon completion of these four courses, new entrants are recommended to apply to Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) for a New Entrant photo identification card verifying their compliance with these requirements.

Experienced Fishermen

An experienced fisherman is defined as a fisherman who has been working as a fisherman for two years or more.
In addition to the courses required of new entrants (above), all experienced fishermen, regardless of whether they hold a Certificate of Competency, must complete the following course:
1 day Safety Awareness and Risk Assessment.

Upon completion of this course, experienced fishermen are recommended to apply to Seafish for an Experienced Fisherman photo identification card verifying their compliance with this requirement.

For full details see  mgn_411_training_doc_june_2010.pdf - "Training and Certification Requirements for the Crew of Fishing Vessels and their Applicability to Small Commercial Vessels and Large Yachts"

We will deliver courses in locations around the county on request - facilities permitting.
To discuss course dates scheduled for January to March 2011 in Cornwall, call Sarah & Emma on 01736 364324

Please note: The offices re-open on the 4th January