Small Non-Pleasure Vessel Basic Safety (MED A3)

Previous Page | Next Page

7.1 General

1. This chapter describes a course providing basic safety training for crew members of non-pleasure vessels of not more than 150 gross tonnage operating not more than 25 nautical miles from shore.
2. Refer to section 205 of the Marine Personnel Regulations for details regarding the applicability of this course, depending on vessel type and voyage class.

7.2 Equipment requirements

1. One approved lifejacket, one immersion suit and one Personal Flotation Device;
2. Two approved life buoys, one with line and the other with light;
3. One dry chemical portable extinguisher;
4. Hand flares and parachute flares (a live demonstration by Coast Guard Boating Safety may be substituted);
5. Visual or audio-visual presentation of cold water shock, swimming failure, hypothermia, post-rescue collapse, their effects, and ways of overcoming them.

7.3 Duration

Minimum 8 hours, including 1.5 hours for practical exercises and 0.5 hours for evaluation, assuming some pre-course reading is assigned. Training providers are cautioned that students who do not complete a certain amount of pre-course reading may require more than 8 hours to complete this course.

7.4 Specific instructor qualifications

The main course instructor must hold a Master certificate not lower than a Fishing Master, Fourth Class certificate, a Master, Limited certificate or a Watchkeeping Engineer, Motor-driven Fishing Vessel certificate. If the course is under the supervision of more than one instructor, the assistant instructors must hold qualifications related to the marine industry or have related skills and be approved in accordance with the Quality Management Manual – Marine Personnel Standards and Pilotage, referred to in Chapter 3.

7.5 Goals and criteria

To provide course participants with:

1. a basic understanding of the hazards associated with the marine environment and their own vessel, and of how to prevent shipboard incidents including fire;
2. the knowledge necessary to raise and react to alarms and deal with emergencies;
3. an ability to provide assistance in fire and abandonment situations;
4. the knowledge and skills which will enable them to assist in their own survival and rescue.

7.6 Outline

1. Introduction and Safety

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Course safety

Theory: 0.25 hours

2. Hazards and Emergencies

• 1. Types of emergencies
• 2. Emergencies on small fishing boats

Theory: 0.25 hours

3. Emergency Response

• 1. Signals and alarms
• 2. Muster lists
• 3. Drills and training
• 4. Action upon discovering emergency
• 5. Action when called to an emergency

Theory: 1.0 hour

4. Marine Firefighting

• 1. Nature of fire
• 2. Principles of extinguishment
• 3. Classes of fire and their symbols
• 4. Extinguishing agents
• 5. Portable extinguishers
• 6. Fire response and fire extinguishing
• 7. Fire causes and prevention

Theory: 1.5 hours

5. Lifesaving Appliances and Abandonment

• 1. Lifejackets and flotation devices
• 2. Immersion suits and work suits
• 3. Life buoys
• 4. Life rafts, emergency boats and equipment

Theory: 1.75 hours
Practical: 0.75 hours

6. Survival

• 1. Factors relating to survival
• 2. Actions to increase chances of survival and rescue
• 3. Actions taken after abandoning in a survival craft

Theory: 0.5 hours

7. Signalling

• 1. Recognition and operation of signalling devices including pyrotechnics
• 2. Electronic communication

Theory: 0.25 hours
Practical: 0.75 hours

8. Rescue

• 1. Rescue equipment
• 2. Vessel rescue
• 3. Helicopter rescue

Theory: 0.5 hours

9. Evaluation

Theory: 0.5 hours

Total Theory: 6.5 hours
Total Practical: 1.5 hour
Total: 8.0 hours

Previous Page | Next Page