Next Skippers Course dates!!!!!!

 These notes are for clarification and guidance in terms of why, who, when and where, and cover the Certificate of Competence, CoC (skippers certificate) only. There is another NEWS item concerning the boat certification.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) Marine Notice No 13 of 2007 details SAMSA policy on small vessel surveys, certification and numbering, and skipper qualification and certification in terms of the MERCHANT SHIPPING (National Small Vessel Safety) REGULATIONS, 2007 (as amended).
In short, this means that ANY ONE, in charge of ANY BOAT, on ANY INLAND OR OFFSHORE WATER, is legally required to conform to these regulations.

Why bother—I’ve been boating for 30years.
How many times have we at Leisure Marine been told this in the past couple of years, and how many boat owners still think that this whole thing is going to “go away”. The good news is that it is here to stay and with the help of all concerned maybe we can go for a whole summer without boats killing people on our dams and rivers.
Let’s look on the bright side. My 30 years on the water gives me a huge knowledge base, and to do a refresher course after 30 yrs may help to iron out some of those bad habits I might have picked up, and maybe will help me with some of the latest innovations that come with new technology. If there is a certificate at the end, well that’s a bonus and makes me legal. For the rest of us, maybe we have only had our boat for 30 minutes and the course will be a welcome introduction to boating.
Make no mistake, the confidence that comes with knowledge and experience will always show through and will be apparent to the others on the boat, be they family or friends, and their level of enjoyment will be enhanced if they can relax, confident in your ability to safely and responsibly manage any situation.
Apart from the logical reasons, there are also other aspects to be considered. The SAPS Water Wing has been equipped with new boats and hopefully these will be used to enforce the new regulations. The insurance industry will not pay out claims where the skipper does not have his CoC. In the event of a serious accident the uncertified skipper could be left wide open to penalty claims, no matter what the real circumstances.
There is really every reason for taking the course and obtaining your Certificate of Competency at the first available opportunity.

Who:
Everyone who owns a boat or wishes to skipper a boat, and remember that if the skipper is going to ski or wakeboard, then whoever is going to drive the boat must also be qualified.
WHEN. The regulations are in force NOW. In Marine Notice No 27 of 2008 SAMSA granted a widow period for skippers of pleasure vessels who must still obtain their Category R, inland waters, certificate from 8 August 2008 to 1st MARCH 2009. No further relaxation is anticipated, so time is rapidly running out.

Where:
The good news is that you can take the course right here at Leisure Marine in Midrand. Tuition is arranged over two evenings, usually a Tuesday and Thursday, with a practical on the Saturday morning (of the same week) at a nearby dam. Leisure Marine provides a boat and launching vehicle.  The examination takes place at Leisure Marine. The exam itself is designed to test your understanding of the course (rather than spelling or grammar) and is mostly common-sense boating (and related matters from the course) questions and the pass rate to date has been excellent.
The Certificate issued is for life, and does not have to retaken unless it is cancelled due to fraud or some serious transgression.

Cost: R1700-00 per person.

Click on the link below for all the documents.

   Back