Training
Governing: STCW Table A-II/2 'working knowledge of shipboard personnel management and training' and column 4 criteria; MCA The Human Element, 'Learning and developing'.
What STCW expects
The A-II/2 criterion is precise: training objectives and activities are based on assessment of current competence and capabilities and operational requirements. That rules out training by calendar alone. It means finding out what people can do, deciding what the vessel needs them to do, and closing the gap.
How people learn
The MCA guide makes points that change how you teach:
- Learning is done by the learner. It does not happen by absorption from a lecture.
- People learn by building on what they already know, step by step or by analogy.
- They learn best when the material is within their grasp, interesting, and when they see the point.
- Without the right guidance, people learn the wrong things. They are learning anyway; the question is what.
A training cycle
| Step | Example: tender driving |
|---|---|
| Assess | Watch the new deckhand drive the yacht's tender in calm water |
| Objectives | Berthing alongside the swim platform in wind; recovering a person from the water; night navigation |
| Teach | Explain and demonstrate |
| Practise | Supervised, in increasing difficulty |
| Assess | Against a checklist, by a competent officer |
| Record | Sign-off in the training record; authorised for guest runs |
The same cycle applies to anchoring, mooring, firefighting teams, rescue boat crew, galley safety and engine room watchkeeping.
Qualifications and experience
The guide warns: do not confuse qualifications with experience. People cannot be properly aware of the risks of their work until they have been exposed to them long enough, mentored by colleagues who already know them. A new officer with the right ticket may still under-estimate risk. Pair them with experience.
On a yacht
- Familiarisation on joining, recorded, before duties.
- Drills that train, not just tick boxes: vary the scenario and debrief.
- On-the-job training by HoDs, with a record.
- Career development: yacht crew often want to progress to the next certificate. Helping them is good for retention and good for the yacht, and supervised service counts towards their CoCs.
- Interior and galley: safety training applies to them too.
Assessing
Assessment should be against a clear standard, observed, and recorded. Be honest: signing off someone who is not ready is a risk to them, the guests and you. Equally, recognise and record competence when it is achieved.
Being a mentor
Most yacht officers learned from someone who took the time. Pass it on: explain your thinking on the bridge, let juniors try with you watching, and review afterwards.
CAUTION — Training records If it is not recorded, an inspector, investigator or insurer will assume it did not happen.
TIP — Teach-back Ask the trainee to explain or demonstrate the task back to you. It reveals gaps a nod will hide.