Bob Austin said in part:
thataway":22dufstq said:
In the US we do not have the more formal "Yacht Master" type of programs which many of the European countries. These certify the crew/skipper for various types, sizes and voyages.
The United States Power Squadron (USPS) has proposed just such a program for its members in the form of the USPS notional boat operator certification scheme. This would consist of four certifications. See:
http://www.usps.org/national/eddept/boc/main.htm
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Background and Overview
With the Boat Operator's Certification Program, USPS will certify USPS members at various levels of recreational boating proficiency. We expect that these certifications will be recognized across the boating community, both domestically and internationally. In the United States, The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has asked congress to authorize the Transportation Secretary to establish requirements for standards of proficiency for recreational boaters. We intend to have USPS certification accepted as the above proof and be accepted as the national certificate for the USA.
Regarding international recognition, we plan to have certain USPS certifications meet or exceed the requirements of UN Resolution 40, International Certificate for the Operation of Pleasure Craft. Under this resolution, boaters holding national certificates will be able to obtain international certification, much like licensed drivers can obtain international drivers licenses.
USPS currently plans four levels of Boat Operator Certification:
Inland Navigator
Coastal Navigator
Advanced Coastal Navigator
Offshore Navigator
Requirements
Certification at any level requires successful completion of all prescribed elements including:
USPS courses - completions are tracked at USPS Headquarters
USPS and/or non-USPS seminars -signed off by instructor and tracked at Headquarters
Skill demonstrations on the water or, in some cases, ashore - signed-off by trained certifier and tracked at headquarters (some are US Sailing programs)
To be certified, a member must be at least 16 years of age, be mentally and physically capable of operating a boat, and have sufficient visual and auditory sensory ability to do so. Holding a drivers license will suffice to certify meeting these requirements.
Inland Navigator (IN) Requirements:
Courses
1) NASBLA approved safe boating course
2) Seamanship (or S 101 and S 102)
3) Engine Maintenance (EM)
4) Marine Electronics or Marine Electrical Systems or ME 101 Seminars
5) How to Use a Chart (CHT) (or Piloting, or Chart Smart or Boating)
6) Onboard Weather Forecasting (WF) or Weather course or Weather
Modules
1) Using GPS (GPS) or the new P or AP course
2) VHF Radio and VHF/DSC Marine Radio (or ME 102 or Marine Communications Systems)
2 additional seminars or 1 additional course
Skills
1) BPH - Basic Powerboat Handling skill demonstration or US Sailing Safe Powerboat Handling on-the-water program
2) FE - Use of Fire Extinguishers
Optional Endorsements
IW - Inland Waterways (Navigating Rivers, Dams and Locks seminar)
PAD - Paddle craft (canoes and kayaks) - Paddle Smart seminar
SA - Sailboating (or Sail or Sail Modules)
Note: The optional SA endorsement is required to be IN certified to operate a sailboat. The optional PAD endorsement is required to be IN certified to operate a paddle craft.
Coastal Navigator Requirements
Prerequisite
IN Certification
Courses
1) Piloting
2) Marine Electronics (or ME 102 or Marine Comunication Systems)
3) Cruise Planning
Seminars
1) Using Radar (RAD)
2) The Mariner's Compass (COMP)
2 additional seminars or one course
Skills
1) NAV - On-Water Navigation
2) PD - Use of Pyrotechnic Distress Signals
Optional Endorsements
IN Endorsements plus:
CAN - Canadian Regulations
MEX - Mexican regulations
Note: CN certification to operate a sailboat requires the SA endorsement. CN certification for paddle craft requires PAD.
Advanced Coastal Navigator and Offshore Navigator requirements will be posted when finalized. ACN and ON certification should be available in 2008 and/or 2009.
Passports
Members pursuing certification will have a "BOC Passport" to record their progress. Passports will be issued to SEOs soon. These will be signed by certifiers and instructors. For courses, seminars and skill demonstrations completed before the issuing of the passport, the SEO or certifier can sign the appropriate spaces based on national or squadron records. It is important for the member to keep a passport and for squadron certifiers to keep back-up records of these events.
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Under this scheme, recertification would be required every five years, per the "Boat Operator Certification Certifier’s Manual". See:
http://www.usps.org/national/eddept/boc ... manual.pdf
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Recertification
Recertification will be required every five (5) years with a yet to be determined recertification program. We will require periodic re-certification or proof of practice (on water experience or teaching the subject) and other updates as they become apparent. Technological advances or new requirements may require completion of selected seminars or classes for recertification in certain cases.
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Certification policies are set forth on pages 8 and 9 of this document, and a summary overview of the four levels is printed on page 15.
The requirements for the last two notional certifications have apparently not been finalized. The draft requirements for the "Advanced Coastal Navigator" certification are found on pages 24 through 26, and the draft requirements for the "Offshore Navigator" certification are found on pages 27 and 28.
These requirements are summarized in tables on pages 54 and 55.
Best regards,
_________________
Rodger Morris
morris_rl@yahoo.com
Scouter, AE6JC, LASFS Life Member, and Sidewalk Astronomer
Unitarian Jihad Name: "Brother Rail Gun of Quiet Reflection"
In my area of the country someone who has never operated a boat can go down and buy one that will go in excess of 60 MPH for very little money and with no training go out and endanger thier lives and the lives of others. The same thing is true about motorcycles but with motorcycles you have to pass a written exam to get a temporary permit to operate one until such time as you take the drivers test. With this law in place at least once a year we read of someone locally leaving a dealership after just purchasing a brand new shiny motorcycle and making a rider error on the way home and getting killed. With this in mind I don't think licensing has done much to prevent accidents with motorcyclist but I'm sure there are probably some statistics out there to show otherwise.
) , but the argument that plenty of licensed drivers are dangerous etc. is not an argument against licensing. An argument against licensing would be that in two populations of drivers, one licensed and the other unlicensed the licensed population had no fewer accidents etc. than the licensed population. It's hard to believe that the amount of risky behavior that you see on the roads every day would be reduced if licensing was not required. On the other hand, the fact that insurance costs are lower for licensed boaters (captains) suggests that this type of licensing, too strenuous for general use, does indeed reduce accidents.