Leading maritime bodies call on global superyacht sector to support essential officers’ training

Oct. 7, 2011 - PRLog -- The partners are campaigning to raise awareness for the need to invest in a new generation of captains, officers and deckhands who can take the rapidly evolving sector forward.

The move comes after the success of Trinity House’s award-winning Professional Yachtsman Bursary Scheme (PYBS) which was developed to address the needs of a fast expanding maritime sector and growing demand from owners and yacht management companies for well qualified officers and senior crew.  

Commodore David Squire, Director of Maritime Training at Trinity House, said: ““Every yacht requires a professional crew of varying size and qualifications, with the larger yachts needing a full SCTW qualified bridge and engine room complement. This is a large industry by any standard and it is only recently that its scale has begun to be appreciated and some attempts made collectively to address training and manning problems.

Through the PYBS, Trinity House, funds up to 75% of a Yacht Cadet’s college fees and pays a monthly allowance to the Cadet during his or her first college phase.  

“The PYBS is an inspired scheme that is not only making wide and significant impact to individual young people, but is also attracting accolade, comment and debate that will result in the establishment of this style of training becoming the standard accepted formal training pathway for officers aboard large yachts,” said Commodore Squire.

“The expected ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention in 2012, may well force the issue given that the requirements of the Convention will apply to the crews of large yachts (and their associated manning agencies), not least to comply with Regulation 1.3 of the Convention ‘to ensure that seafarers are trained or qualified to carry out their duties on board ship’.”

One example partnership is the Yachting Cadetship, established by UKSA, Trinity House and Plymouth University. The three year programme, which leads to the MCA Officer of the Watch 3000gt qualification, is designed in consultation with the MCA. It is structured around a robust syllabus that combines academic study, statutory qualifications and practical paid work with the opportunity to undertake a University Foundation Degree in Operational Yacht Science.

There are currently 60 Cadets on the programme, all of whom are now making successful inroads into the industry.

http://www.uksa.org/career/yachting/sailing/yachting-cade...

Superyacht owners and managers are now invited to enter into partnership with Trinity House or to invest similar schemes to ensure that the superyacht officers of the future are properly trained.

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UKSA is a leading youth maritime charity, working to change lives and develop future leaders through maritime education and personal development. 7,222 individuals benefited from UKSA’s charitable activity in 2010, of which 17.6 per cent received assisted funding from UKSA.

As a globally recognised professional training provider in yachting careers and watersports, UKSA has a strong alumni network in the global maritime industry. Its graduates include the world-renowned sailor Dee Caffari and record-breaking quadriplegic sailor Hilary Lister.

Based in Cowes, UKSA’s 3.5 acre on shore campus and fleet offers a comprehensive range of industry accredited yachting and watersports careers programmes, leisure training and multi activity watersports activities for schools and youth groups.

UKSA was founded by the retail entrepreneur Noel Lister. The charity celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2012.