News

SEAFISH News: Fishermen’s Training

30 January 2009

Seafish helps to meet the cost of training

Training is vitally important in fostering a safe environment for those working in the fishing sector. With more than 300 accidents involving fishing vessels reported in 2007, the need for safety training is as important as ever. It is also a legal requirement that all fishermen who work on UK-registered fishing vessels attend approved basic safety training courses in sea survival, fire fighting, first aid and safety awareness.

Simon Potten, Training and Accreditation Manager at Seafish outlines the range and diversity of courses which are run or supported by Seafish to help fishermen meet their legal obligations, the funding support that is available and the new courses that are going to be running in 2009 for the sea-going sector.

It is also always worthwhile to reiterate what the legal requirements actually are. Legislation introduced by the MCA in 1989 (and amended in 2004) stipulates that all fishermen working on UK-registered fishing vessels must have attended approved basic safety training courses in sea survival, fire fighting, first aid and safety awareness.

New entrants to the industry are required to attend a basic Health and Safety course before attending the safety awareness course. There are no exemptions from these clauses and the MCA has the power to impound vessels that fail to produce evidence that all crew members comply with these requirements.

In addition skippers and mates on vessels of 16.5m/54ft and above are required to hold MCA Class 1 or Class 2 Deck Officer (Fishing Vessel) Certificates of Competency. Likewise, chief and second engineers on vessels with a propulsive power of 750kW/1005HP or more must hold MCA Class 1 or Class 2 Engineer Officer (Fishing Vessel) Certificates of Competency.

The MCA is proposing to introduce a new mandatory training requirement for all skippers on vessels less than 16.5m in length in 2010. This will comprise short courses in navigation, engineering and stability awareness.

Helping to meet the cost of training

Now is the time to take advantage of subsidised training. Thanks to funding from the Department for Transport, Seafish is able to reduce the cost of training courses on offer to skippers of vessels of less than 16.5m, and is also able to offer grants of up to £1,000 to fisherman studying for the MCA Certificates of Competency.

In the under 16.5m class fishermen with at least two years relevant experience and who have completed the four mandatory safety training courses can apply for subsidised training courses. These include two and five day courses in bridge watch keeping and engine watch keeping, a one day intermediate stability awareness course and a one day GMDSS short range certificate course. Completion of all of these will lead to the award of an under 16.5m Skipper’s Certificate.

Since July 2008, over 400 fishermen have already taken advantage of this subsidised training and 20 fishermen have received grants of up to £1,000 towards the cost of the Certificates of Competency.

Individual Training Support Grants (ITSGs)

Scotland

In Scotland Seafish grants are available towards the cost of all basic fishermen’s safety training and training in care of the catch. Grants are paid direct to approved training providers. Since October 2008, over 150 Scottish fishermen have attended training subsidised by Seafish.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

It is not just experienced fishermen that can benefit from training grants. Under the new Seafish ITSG scheme new entrants to the fishing industry in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can apply for grants towards the cost of basic safety training. Since July 2008 300 new entrants have taken advantage of this support.

New for 2009

A number of new courses are being developed, which will be trialled in 2009. These include:

• a short damage control course to train fishermen in regular vessel maintenance
• the key steps to be taken when fishing vessels start taking on water, and
• a three-week induction course in basic seamanship for new entrants.

E-learning is also being trialled with the roll out of a new online system for assessing fishermen’s knowledge in stability, navigation and engineering. The system will help existing fishermen comply with the proposed introduction in 2010 of a new skipper’s certificate for vessels less than 16.5m. It provides an opportunity for fishermen to take a series of multiple choice tests to test their knowledge in these key skills.

As part of our service to the fishing industry, Seafish co-ordinates and supports the delivery of all fishermen’s safety training through a network of approved training providers. The network covers the whole of the UK and many of the courses are run in port at convenient locations and at times to suit local fishing patterns. Each training provider has its own competent instructors to deliver the training and use state of the art computer technology to deliver courses.

For further information on the training available and to find out dates of forthcoming courses in your area either contact your local approved training provider:

Contact Lachie Paterson for further information.

Look at the Seafish website: www.seafish.org/sea/training.asp?p=ef154
or Contact the Seafish training team on 01472 252302.