Power Yacht Training – Boat Master Commercial
Boat Master Commercial training at Asian Yachting Academy covers power boat systems, handling, navigation and safe onboard operations. Review the detailed syllabus below to see the knowledge and practical skills included in the course.
Preparing for Boat Master Commercial
First, check the age and VHF/SRC requirements on this page. Then review the course duration and the training topics, including line handling, engine checks and collision regulations. Note any questions about your experience or the documents you need to provide.
For background on the wider pathway, explore the ISSA course overview. Also use our training materials to prepare. Finally, contact the academy to confirm dates, fees and current Boat Master Commercial arrangements. Ask how the qualification relates to your intended activity and where you plan to operate.
Experience required prior training: None
Certification required prior training: VHF/SRC
Validity: 5 years (Subject to refresher before renewal)
Minimum age required: 21 years old
Equipment requirements: Power boat up to 15 m long, able to plane
Suggested number of training hours: 50 hours
Who can run the training: ISSA Instructor
Who can do the examination: ISSA Instructor
How to submit the application: To authorised ISSA school only
Qualifications obtained after the course: Skipper power boats:
– up to 15m long (with inboard our or not our outboard engine)
– Day and Night
– Up to 20 nautical miles offshore
Skills and knowledge required for a Boat Master
Boat’s construction
- Knows the basic terminology of a power boat:
° Bow;
° Stern, aft, etc. - Can fill up the water and fuel tanks;
- Can operate the engine;
° Start is;
° Switch it off;
° Check operation of cooling system;
° Check oil level;
° Top up engine oil;
° Check cooling fluid level;
° Top up cooling fluid level;
° Find bottom valves;
° Recognize the breakdown of impeller in cooling system and possibly replace it;
° Check whether alternator is charging batteries when engine is working. - Knows elementary equipment of yacht:
° Echo-sounder (location, operation, typical errors);
° Log;
° Steering system;
Line and spring handling
- Can combine two lines of the same and different diameter;
- Can make:
° Bowline;
° Fast a line on a cleat;
° Fishermen’s bend;
° Coil mooring lines;
- Can:
° Pass, take, make fast on cleat, let go mooring lines;
° Throw mooring lines;
° Describe different ways of taking a mooring.
Handling fenders
- Can:
° Fix the fenders using adequate knots;
° Effectively apply the manouvering fender;
Operating the anchor
- Can:
° Prepare the anchor for weighing;
° Select safe location for staying at anchor;
° Apply rules for safe anchoring (4xdepth, anchor alarm/watch);
° Distinguish different types of anchors and their characteristics.
Safety
- Can:
° Perform the safety briefing:
– How to move on deck;
– How to apply personnal safety equipment (harness, jackstay, etc.);
– Apply distress signalling equipment (pyrotechnics, flags, etc.);
– Different methods to send distress signal;
– Make a distress call with help of VHF;
– Knows procedures to be applied in restricted visibility;
– Basic knowledge about SAR procedures (RIB, helicopter);
– First Aid Kit (location and content).
Handling boat under power
- Can:
° Launch and recover a boat;
° Manouver a boat under power;
° Approach a MOB;
° Take a berth/leave a berth (longside, stern-to, bow-to);
° Weigh anchor.
International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea
- Knows the navigation shapes and lights:
° Vessel not under command;
° Vessel restricted in ability to manouver;
° Vessel engaged in fishing;
° Vessel aground;
° Pilot vessel;
° Towing set
° Sailing yacht;
° Power driven vessel; - Knows the vessels’ priority at sea;
- Knows how to proceed in a „close encounter” situation;
- Is familiar and complies with the requirement for continues observation;
- Is familiar with other legal obligations of a skipper and crew;
- Is familiar with and understands after-collision rules applicable at sea.
Navigational Aids
- Knows, understands and is able to recognize lateral and smaller channel marks at day time in system IALA A and B;
- Knows, understands and is able to recognize cardinal marks and other navigational marks (safe water mark, isolated danger mark) at day time;
- Is able to use the list of marks and symbols used on charts (eg. Chart 5011);
- Is able to apply navigational publications when planning a port’s entry (pilot books, almanacs, navigational plans);
- Knows and can recognize light characteristics of Lighthouses/navigational marks.
Terrestrial navigation
- Knows and understands the basic terms from geography:
° Latitude;
° Longitude;
° Magnetic pole;
° Geographic pole;
° Earth’s magnetic field; - Knows the basic types of sea charts, their construction and application:
° Mercator’s projection chart (how is it constructed, spreading of parallels, construction parallel)
° Passage charts, coastal charts, plans; - Can read elementary information from a chart that is crucial for safe sailing:
° Depths;
° Distance;
° Navigational obstacles
° Navigational marks; - Can read charts/ plot latitude and longitude;
- Knows and understands the phenomenon of Earth’s magnetism, variation and deviation;
- Can use a compass;
- Can make use of various bearing lines;
- Has general information about tides and tide-related dangers.
Electronic-based navigation
- Knows how the GPS system works;
- Can enable and check the elementary settings of GPS and plotter;
- Can set and read adequate course on GPS;
- Can plot a position on a chart taken from a GPS;
- Knows what is AIS, ARPA, VTS.
Meteorology
- Knows the Beaufort scale and its meaning for small craft;
- Knows sources of meteo information and how to use them;
- Has the basic knowledge about high, low pressure areas, fronts;
- Can recognize cumulonimbus clouds;
- Understands meteo messages (including those broadcast by radio coastal stations)
- Can take meteo factors into consideration when planning a passage in a coastal zone:
- Has the habit not to leave harbour without valid weather forecast.
Other
- Environmental friendly approach and respect to other yachtsmen and women;
- Knows and applies basic pro-environmental rules;
- Knows and applies social friendly approach at sea and in harbour.