Mandatory Basic Safety Training

Why do fishermen need to complete these courses?
The following basic safety training legislation, requires fishermen to undertake basic safety training

Since 1st March 1989 The Fishing Vessels (Safety Training) Regulations  have stated that;
No person, other than a certificated deck officer or a certificated engineer officer or a serving fisherman born before the 1st March 1954, shall be employed or engaged on a fishing vessel registered in the United Kingdom unless he is the holder of a certificate or certificates issued by the Sea Fish Industry Authority certifying:-
(i) that he has undergone an Approved Training Course in each of the following subjects -
(a) basic survival at sea,
(b) basic fire-fighting and prevention, and
(c) basic first aid,

Since 1st January 2005 The Fishing Vessels (Safety Training) Regulations  have stated that;
No person, other than a certificated deck officer or a certificated engineer officer, shall be employed or engaged on a fishing vessel registered in the United Kingdom unless he is the holder of a certificate or certificates issued by the Sea Fish Industry Authority certifying:-
(a) that he has undergone an Approved Training Course in each of the following subjects-
(i) basic survival at sea,

(ii) basic fire-fighting and prevention,

(iii) basic first aid, and

(iv) basic health and safety.

or

(b) if he is the holder of a certificate of competency as a skipper or second hand issued pursuant to section 414 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894[4] that he has undergone an Approved Training Course in basic survival at sea and basic fire fighting and prevention.
(2) No experienced fisherman shall act as master of a fishing vessel or be employed or engaged on a fishing vessel registered in the United Kingdom unless he is the holder of a certificate or certificates certifying that he has undergone an Approved Training Course in Safety Awareness.
Note:  Experienced fishermen is defined as having served 2 years on a fishing vessel

From the fishermen's point of view - What's in it for me?
Apart from legal requirement skills learnt on basic courses will help deal with incidents at sea and save lives in an emergency situation.

Assessment
No formal test but understanding and skills will be continually assessed during the day.  

Although there is no formal test at the end of the day the instructor has an obligation to fail anybody he believes has not learnt the basics skills/knowledge covered in the course

What next?
Fishermen who have completed all four mandatory basic safety training courses (sea survival, first aid, fire fighting and safety awareness) and meet the criteria listed below will be eligible for funding for the following courses that comprise the Under 16.5 m Skippers Certificate

• Navigation/Bridge Watchkeeping (2-day and 5-day courses)
• Engineering/Engine Watchkeeping (1-day and 2-day courses)
• Intermediate Stability Awareness (1-day course)
• GMDSS Short Range Certificate (1-day course)

Funding for these courses is available. Seafish has secured this funding from the Department of Transport (DfT) and providing the following criteria are met you will be eligible:

• aged 18 or above
• fishermen currently working (or having previously worked) on a UK-registered fishing vessel
• fishermen who has completed all four mandatory basic safety training courses (sea survival, first aid, fire fighting and safety awareness)
• fishermen with at least 12 months fishing experience
• able to provide a valid National Insurance number

DfT funding is also available to contribute towards the cost of;

• Fishing Vessel (Deck Officer) Certificate of Competency Class 1 and Class 2
• Fishing Vessel (Engineer Officer) Certificate of Competency Class 1 and Class 2

For more information call us on 01736 364324 or call Seafish Training on 01472 252300.