GUIDANCE ON BOAT MASTER’S AND ENGINEER’S LICENCES

Grades and area restrictions of Boatmaster Licences

(Extract From SCV Code)

A licence as a Master issued under regulation IX/3 shall bear the title “Boatmater Licence” and shall be of one of the following grades, which shall be stated in the licence

Boatmaster Licence, Grade 1

Boatmaster Licence, Grade 2

Boatmaster Licence, Grade 3.

The grade of licence appropriate in respect of a vessel when being navigated in waters specified in column (1) of Table IX/4.2, being of the size or type specified in relation to those in column (2) of the Table shall be either that specified in relation to those waters and that size or type of vessel in column (3) of the table or, where the grade so specified is 2 or 3, a higher grade than that so specified:

Table IX/4.2

REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING A BOAT MASTER LICENCE

In order to obtain a BOATMASTER LICENCE GRADE 3 an applicant shall

1.     apply to Virgin Islands Shipping Registry completing appropriate application form along with fee  and  fulfilling all requirements.

2.     be eighteen years of age or over;

3.         have submitted a valid medical certificate (Virgin Islands GP Medical Report acceptable, Medical Report Form SR630-02 to be completed by GP)

4.     have completed a course of ten hours of practical instruction under a licenced Boatmaster in sail or power vessels of appropriate size;

5.     have completed at least 5 years of sea service, 2 of which must have been in service as a mate of a vessel of appropriate size

6.     produce documentary evidence of having obtained qualifications in Basic Safety Training as per Annex 11-1.2 of the Code.

7.     have passed an examination for Boatmaster Grade 3.

8.     have a valid Radio Telephone Operator Licence

In order to obtain a BOATMASTER LICENCE GRADE 2 an applicant shall –

1.     apply to Virgin Islands Shipping Registry completing appropriate Application form along with fee and  fulfilling all requirements.

2.     be twenty years of age or age;

3. submitted a valid medical certificate (Virgin Islands GP Medical Report acceptable, Medical Report Form SR630-02 to be completed by GP)
4. have completed a course of ten hours of practical instruction under a licenced operator in sail or power vessels of appropriate size;
5. have completed at least 5 years of sea service, 2 of which must have been in service as a mate of a vessel of appropriate size.
6. produce documentary evidence of having obtained qualifications Basic Safety Training as per Annex 11-1.2 of the Code.
7. have a valid Radio Telephone Operator Licence
8. have passed the examination for Boatmaster Grade 2, or be the holder of a valid Boatmaster Grade 3 licence and operated in that capacity for a minimum of 18 months.

In order to obtain a BOATMASTER LICENCE GRADE 1 an applicant shall –

1.     apply to Virgin Islands Shipping Registry completing appropriate Application form along with fee  and  fulfilling all requirements.

2.     be twenty one years of age;

3.        have submitted a valid medical certificate (Virgin Islands GP Medical Report acceptable, Medical Report Form SR630-02 to be completed by GP)

4.     have completed a course of ten hours of practical instruction under a licenced operator in sail or power vessels of appropriate size;

5.      have completed at least 5 years of sea service, 2 of which must have been in service as a mate of a vessel of appropriate size.

6.     produce documentary evidence of having obtained qualifications Basic Safety Training as per Annex 11-1.2 of the Code. 

7.      or be the holder of a valid Boatmaster Grade 2 licence.

8.     have a valid  Radio Telephone Operator Licence

9.     have passed the examination for Boatmaster Grade 1.

A Boatmaster examination for Grades 2 and 3 consists of three parts.  The first part consists of a practical test in Chartwork examination, the second part consists of an oral examination in which applicants will be tested on their knowledge of safety, navigation, rule of the road and seamanship subjects and also how they respond to certain emergency situations. The third part consists of a practical test carried out on the size of vessel for which the applicant needs a licence.  This test requires applicants to demonstrate their ability to handle the vessel in various circumstances.

The Boatmaster examination for Grade 1 consists of three parts.  The first part consists of Chartwork examination, the second part consists of an oral examination in which applicants will be tested on their knowledge of safety, rule of the road and seamanship subjects and also how their respond to certain emergency situations.  The third part is a practical test carried out on a vessel of 12m – 24m in length.  This test requires applicants to demonstrate their ability to handle the vessel in various circumstances.

An applicant passing only one part of the examination will be allowed to retain the pass in that part for a period of one year subject to the applicant being the holder of a valid medical fitness certificate when re-sitting the other part.  Details of the syllabus for each grade are attached.

Validity and renewal of licences.

Licences shall be subject to re-validation every three years for persons up to sixty-five years of age and such re-validation shall be subjected to the holder providing proof that he has had at least forty-five days’ service in vessels for which the licence is valid during the pervious three years, and the submission of a valid medical fitness certificate issued in accordance with such requirements as the Director may from time to time determine.

Licences held by persons sixty-five years of age and over shall be subject to proof that he has had at least fifteen days’ services in a vessel for which the licence is valid during the pervious year, and the submission of a valid medical fitness certificate issued in accordance with such requirements as the Director may from time to time determine.

Where a person is unable to produce proof of the experience required under sub-regulation (1) or (2), that person shall apply for examination.

A licence issued under these regulations shall remain valid only so long as the holder complies with the standards of competence and the conditions, including conditions as to medical fitness, specified, in regulation 13 (2).