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Apprenticeship training course

Ship’s master – less than 500 gross tonnage near coastal (level 4)

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Information about Ship’s master – less than 500 gross tonnage near coastal (level 4)

Take charge of a vessel's safety and navigation at sea and in harbour as the most senior rank on board a vessel. Make decisions about the safe navigation, collision avoidance and security of the vessel.

Knowledge, skills and behaviours
View knowledge, skills and behaviours

Knowledge

  • Master’s over-riding authority as defined by the International Safety Management (ISM) code.
  • Flag state and international regulations: International Convention for the Safety of life at sea (SOLAS), International convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), International Regulations Prevention of Collision at Sea (IRPCS), International Ship and Port Facilities Code (ISPS), International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR), Life Saving Appliances (LSA) Code, Fire Safety Systems Code (FSS), Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER), Code of Safe working practices for merchant seafarers (UK only) (COSWP).
  • Audit requirements, including, port state control, flag states and classification society.
  • Company’s safety management procedures: Safety Management System (SMS), reporting procedures, and internal audit requirements.
  • Crew certification, composition, and requirements by rank or position.
  • The vessel particulars as outlined in the Officer of the Watch Training Record Book (TRB).
  • Official documents and requirements for their maintenance: Official Log Book, Oil Record Book, Garbage Record Book, Radio Log, Crew list, Muster list.
  • Crew Welfare & Wellbeing.
  • Fatigue and Hours of Rest Regulations and how this relates to the working patterns and requirements of the small vessel sector.
  • Emergency situation responses on board a vessel.
  • Conflict management techniques.
  • The commercial influences and priorities of the operation.
  • Principles and techniques of watchkeeping: requirements at sea, requirements at anchor, requirements in port, limitations of watchkeeping responsibility & crew’s authority to call Master whenever deemed necessary, Competent Harbour Authority (CHA) regulations and requirements.
  • Navigation considerations: operations in restricted visibility, weather routing, tidal and meteorological conditions, navigational features including restricted areas & hazards, buoyage, situational awareness of other traffic: proximity, speed.
  • Passage Planning including Emergency Contingencies: passage planning and navigational considerations for all conditions, their importance, and legal application, application and safe usage of autopilot systems, ports of refuge and safe havens, emergency steering and communications, emergency command and control.
  • Under keel clearance and contributing factors: squat, heave, pitch, roll, list.
  • The different types and purposes of navigational systems: paper charts, electronic navigational aids (ECS, ECDIS), and maritime publications.
  • Marine notices and their purpose: Notices to Mariners, Temporary & Preliminary Notice to Mariners, ALRS, and Navigational Aids.
  • Routine and emergency communications equipment, including maintaining appropriate radio watch.
  • Speed & manoeuvring including in restricted conditions.
  • Mooring Plans: using shoreside assistance, self-mooring, buoys and anchoring, adjusting moorings and anchors as required and according to tide and prevailing weather conditions.
  • Crew competence requirements.
  • Requirements for safe means of access and egress: safety and monitoring of gangway, monitoring or tide and weather conditions, level access requirements.
  • Methods, Systems and Tools to manage and mitigate risk: Master’s standing orders Code of Safe Working Practices (COSWP) Competent Harbour Authorities (CHAs) regulations, Safe systems of work, Task Risk Assessment / hierarchy of risk, Permit to work, Toolbox talks, Stop work authority, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), Lifting Appliance regulations (LOLER), Cargo movements, Enclosed space entry, Hot work, Isolation – electrical / liquid / gas, Working at height, Working overside, Emergency exercises, Emergency communications, Critical equipment and functions, Winches, windlass, towing hooks, cranes, lifting equipment, Defect reporting, Planned maintenance and recording.
  • Different types of cargoes and cargo operations: processes for the safe handling, stowage and securing of cargoes, requirements of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
  • Vessel stability: stages of loading, stability calculations.
  • The operation, maintenance and servicing requirements of the safety equipment on board the vessel.
  • Handling, care and aftercare of casualties.
  • Role and responsibilities of the Designated Person Ashore (DPA).
  • Provisioning: company requirements, number of personnel and intended voyage, calculations and specific requirements for consumables, fresh produce, potable water, dry stores, cleaning products, personal hygiene.
  • Principles of managing performance on board.
  • Sector and organisational specific handover requirements: state of navigation equipment and machinery, vessel accounts, MLC compliance, disciplinary or grievance matters.
  • Handling and propulsion characteristics of different vessel types, including hydrodynamic interaction.
  • Accident and incident reporting processes, including accident investigation techniques.
  • Information technology: Management Information Systems (MIS), spreadsheets, presentation, word processing, email, virtual communication and learning platforms. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
  • Planned and unplanned CPD and recording methods.
  • Written communication techniques. Plain English principles. Industry terminology.
  • Verbal communication techniques. Giving and receiving information. Matching style to audience. Industry terminology.
  • Principles of effective leadership and management, including delegation and the prioritisation of resources.
  • Environmental and sustainability requirements and guidance, for example, environmental management systems standard, environmental protection act, alternative fuel sources.
  • Principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. Unconscious bias. The Equality act - requirements on organisations.
  • Problem solving tools and techniques.

Skills

  • Safely navigate vessel to meet operational and customer requirements.
  • Manage the safe conduct of navigation of the passage, including use of autopilot system.
  • Manage all aspects of navigational information.
  • Select steering method according to prevailing environmental conditions.
  • Implement performance checks and tests of navigation systems.
  • Evaluate and respond to meteorological information.
  • Manage compliance with legislation and guidance on lights, shapes and sound signals aboard the vessel.
  • Follow principles and procedures of vessel traffic monitoring, including in response to environmental conditions.
  • Act according to collision regulations to avoid hazardous close encounters and collisions with other vessels.
  • Allocate tasks and responsibilities to crew.
  • Manage crew competences.
  • Manage and handle cargoes, stores, bunkers and waste.
  • Monitor and manage vessel stability, using load-line calculations consistent with size of vessel.
  • Manage cargo operations in accordance with cargo plan or other documents.
  • Manage and supervise others in handling, hazardous and harmful cargoes in compliance with international regulations and safe working practices.
  • Manoeuvre a vessel in near-coastal waters, taking account of compliance requirements, vessel type, capability, loading and external factors such as tide and weather.
  • Manage and supervise others in operating, plant auxiliary machinery and equipment.
  • Select mooring or anchoring solutions in accordance with compliance, vessel type, capability, loading and external factors such as tide and weather.
  • Operate vessels with a range of propulsion types in near coastal waters, for example single screw, twin screw, variable pitch, directional propulsion.
  • Maintain or replace life-saving appliances and other safety equipment.
  • Communicate Master’s standing orders to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Operate within limits of role and follow escalation procedures.
  • Apply the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers.
  • Identify skills gaps within the crew and deliver coaching and mentoring.
  • Identify and manage the signs of fatigue.
  • Dynamically risk assess the type and scale of an emergency situation as it develops.
  • Manage coordination of emergency response, including with the emergency services in the event of a medevac.
  • Administer emergency first aid.
  • Implement own organisation’s security procedures.
  • Conducts vessel handover.
  • Applies accident and incident reporting processes and accident investigation techniques.
  • Use vessel technology, complying with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
  • Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities for self and others.
  • Communicate in writing with others for example, internal and external customers, colleagues, and managers.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Manage human resources onboard.
  • Satisfy environmental and sustainability requirements and guidance, for example, environmental management systems standard, environmental protection act, alternative fuel sources.
  • Apply and promote policies and practices to support equity, diversity and inclusion.
  • Diagnose, investigate and resolve problems in line with responsibilities.

Behaviours

  • Establishes a safe working environment and practices that foster a positive safety culture.
  • Committed to maintaining and enhancing competence of self and others through CPD.
  • Takes ownership of the Master’s responsibilities and work of self and others.
  • Being calm and effective under pressure.
  • Actively seeks to minimise negative environmental impact and waste.
  • Be a role model for the organisation and maritime sector with regards to diversity, equality, and inclusion.
Apprenticeship category (sector)
Transport and logistics
Qualification level
4
Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)
Course duration
48 months
Maximum funding
£27,000
Maximum government funding for
apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
Job titles include
  • Master
  • Ship's captain
  • Skipper

View more information about Ship’s master – less than 500 gross tonnage near coastal (level 4) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.