Happy Friday,
This week we want to delve into the process of building a career in the deck department. This is a long process that requires experience and qualifications.
Let’s start at the beginning, once you hold a YM offshore you can start to work towards what is called an Officer of the Watch 3,000 GT.
In order to obtain this you must meet the requires set by the MCA set in MGN 1856 M+F which can be found on the MCA website. Do the research!
Next, sit down with your captain or chief officer and start to work through your training record book, by doing this you show them you want to progress in your career.
A Career onDeck… Where to Start?
You’ve been in yachting for a while these are the next steps…
- Yacht Master Offshore
- Start your Deck Training Record Book. (TRB, If you haven’t already).
- Keep an acccurate record of your sea time and days onboard, this is esssential information to have.
- Best place to record seatime is on the Digital Sea Service App!
- Get a seamans discharge book from the Flag state of your current vessel.
- Do the EDH (efficient deckhand) course first as you need to hold this for 18 months before doing an oral exam.
- Work towards getting watch keeping experience by working with the first officer.
They’ve got knowledge and experience you can learn from. Set a time once a week/month depending on the schedule to go through the segments.
Set yourself goals to work to, based on different topic’s in the TRB such as Fire fighting, Radar etc.
Start to consider basing the jobs you accept around gaining sea time and watch keeping experience.
We at Abeam Crew care about supporting yacht crew… have a question reach out to us.
Abeam Crew
The crew agency that cares!
Modules to OOW
- Efficient Deckhand (EDH)
- GMDSS General Operator GOC
- Human Elements of leadership and management (Helm Operational)
- Proficiency in Survival and Rescue boat (PSCRB)
- Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS)
- Navigation and Radar
- General Ships Knowledge (GSK)
Moreover, you must hold a valid ENG1 (a seafarer’s medical) and an STCW.
Photo by Michael Kurtz Photography