What I Do
My qualifications for practical instruction include being an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor, I hold a NZ Domestic Commercial Qualification, and I am also a qualified Yachting NZ Instructor for Keelboats, so I am able to assist with tuition on your own vessel. I examine for radio Short-Range Certificates as well as train and invigilate for the Long-Range Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency (LROCP). And if I cannot assist you directly, my many years in this industry have equipped me with the contacts to assist you with whatever you may need to sail.
Vessel Instruction & Sailing Courses
OWN BOAT TUITION
From discussion with Maritime Insurers it appears the majority of vessel repair claims are generated through collisions with immovable objects such as docks or moored vessels when approaching or leaving a marina berth or jetty. In fact, for most boat owners, the stresses of berthing and unberthing their vessel are greater than at any other time of their boating experience.
I can help to assuage that nervousness by showing you a number of methods which you may be able to use on your own vessel.
I am available to deliver tuition on your own vessel for whatever purpose you may require, whether it be confined space manoeuvring, single or twin screw operation, berthing and unberthing in different conditions, the use of spring lines to assist you in your manoeuvring, approaching a mooring buoy in different conditions, and various methods of undertaking Person Overboard manoeuvres.
It is highly recommended that you have an understanding of the International Rules for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (IRPCAS) prior to my undertaking your own boat tuition.
I am able to instruct “Rules of the Road” theory, should that be necessary.
COASTGUARD BOATING EDUCATION COURSES
As an accredited Coastguard Boating Education tutor, I am able to advise you on your best course of action and set you on a suitable path to obtaining that qualification. I am also able to conduct practical boat handling tuition on your own boat whether it be a sailboat or a power driven vessel. For those wishing to undertake entry-level recreational boating instruction in NZ I am able to assist with obtaining a Coastguard Boating Education certificate such as the NZ Day Skipper or NZ Boatmaster.
INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Internationally accepted qualifications are much sought after by many people wishing to go boating overseas, and I am able to advise you as to your best options for most countries. Many European countries have accepted the International Certificate of Competency (ICC) as a standard for recreational vessel training and in NZ that can be obtained through an RYA Training Centre which is recognised to deliver training in the particular discipline for which you require the certificate, e.g. Power<10m, Sail, Power >10m etc.
RYA COURSES
Should you be wishing to undertake a qualification which may be commercially endorsed, such as the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competency I can direct you to a Training centre which may offer the practical on water examination.
I highly recommend that you undertake the RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased course prior to undertaking the practical examination. This will enable you to easily comprehend and complete many of the navigational evolutions which will be required of you in your 8 – 10hr practical examination.
Contact me if you wish to undertake this shorebased course.
Radio Certificates
If you have a Marine Radio Transceiver on board your vessel and you intend to operate that radio it is a matter of International Law that you must hold the relevant Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency.
SHORT-RANGE CERTIFICATE
I am able to examine you for this purpose.
Most small vessels have a Very High Frequency (VHF) radio transmitter aboard (either fixed or handheld) and the most commonly required certificate for International use is the Short-Range Certificate. This certificate includes the use of Digital Selective Calling (DSC) and is essential when operating in Europe as many of their coast stations are semi-automated and the system is also often used for inter-ship transmissions.
Maritime NZ have chosen not to employ DSC function for VHF transmissions in NZ, and have therefore not required it to be included in most lower level training certificates. You can, however, obtain a NZ Maritime Short-range Operator’s Certificate (MSROC) for overseas use from specific Radio Spectrum Management Approved Radio Examiners (ARX).
I am such an examiner.
LONG-RANG OPERATOR’S CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY (LROCP)
I am able to train and invigilate examination for LROCP in New Zealand.
In some cases, particularly for those persons wishing to be involved in some overseas offshore yacht races, and for those person’s wishing to obtain the NZ Master Yacht <24m maritime document, you may need a higher radio qualification such as the Long-Range Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency (LROCP). This is not yet available as a New Zealand qualification, however the Australian Office of Maritime Communication (OMC) do provide this qualification, which is accepted by Maritime NZ. I am able to train and invigilate examination for this Australian certificate here in New Zealand.
Contact me if this is what you may require.
Callsigns
If you wish to obtain a callsign for an SSB radio I am able to assist you.
By International Regulation, all radio transmissions must be uniquely identified. For voice transmissions this is achieved through the use of a callsign. All NZ Maritime callsigns begin with the prefix ZM.
Coastguard Boating Education have been granted, by Radio Spectrum Management, the monopoly on the issue of callsigns for VHF radios in NZ. Unless you have a Single Sideband (SSB)MF/HF radio transceiver installed in your vessel, then you must obtain the callsign from Coastguard Boating Education. (In Australia, the administration have ceased the issue of callsigns for VHF radios in favour of using the vessel’s registration number.)
Digital transmissions must also be uniquely identified. This is achieved through the use of a Maritime Mobile Service Identifier (MMSI). This is a 9-digit number, the first 3 of which identify the country of origin of the vessel. All DSC radios must have an MMSI entered into them for the DSC part of the radio to be of any value in an emergency.
MMSI are also required for Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) which are now becoming very commonly fitted to recreational vessels.
It is important to understand that the MMSI when issued, becomes inextricably linked to the vessel’s callsign.
So, if you have obtained a callsign from Coastguard Boating Education and now wish to have an MMSI issued as well, that callsign and MMSI become linked in the Radio Spectrum Management database and you will be unable to take the callsign with you if you sell the vessel.
Should you wish to obtain an MMSI for your vessel, I am able to assist.