Power Boat Operator CourseSyllabus:

Includes Sounds, Signals, Distress, Shipping Channels, Navigation Markers, Navigation, Route Planning, Flares, Day

Shapes, Night Lights & flash patterns, Fire extinguisher types, hypothermia, steering rules, fire triangle, safe speed, navigation lights, speed restrictions, anchoring, wind strength, legal ages, safety equipment

No Brakes.

Marine Safety Victoria

• Marine Safety Victoria plays the role as the State's marine safety agency by

• coordinating waterway management,

• developing and implementing vessel standards and operator competencies,

• protecting the marine environment and

• by funding the improvement and development of associated infrastructure.

Marine Safety Victoria• Marine Act and Regulations• All vessels operating in Victorian waters are required to comply with

the relevant provisions of the following documents:– Marine Act 1988– Marine Regulations 2009– Marine (Hire and Drive Vessels) Act 2001– Vessel Operating and Zoning Rules– Local Port Rules & Harbour Master’s Directions

• Marine Act 1988 & Marine Regulations 2009 are provided online at: www.dms.dpc.vic.gov.au or can be purchased from the Information Victoria Bookshop.

• Vessel Operating and Zoning Rules are available online at: www.marinesafety.vic.gov.au.

Types of licence

• General Boat Operator Licence– A general boat operator licence is required by

any person over the age of 16 who is operating a powered recreational vessel.

• Restricted Operator Licence– A restricted boat operator licence is required

by any person over the age of 12, but under the age of 16, who is operating a powered recreational vessel.

Restricted Operator Licence• Restricted Operator Licence conditions

– Holders of a restricted operator licence:a. must operate at speeds of less than 10 knotsb. may operate at speeds of up to 20 knots if:

– i. accompanied by a person over the age of 16 years who is licensed appropriately for the vessel being operated

– ii. operating between sunrise and sunset

c. must not operate a vessel that is towing.

For example, if a PWC is being operated, the licence of theaccompanying person must be endorsed for PWC operation

PWC – Personal Water Craft eg Jetski etcto operate this you need an additional PWC endorsement.

Licence Test

• What is involved in the test?• an eyesight chart to test vision• a multiple-choice test to assess knowledge of

waterway rules and safe boat operation.• The minimum passing grade for the boat

operator licence test, is 26 out of 30 questions.• The minimum passing grade for the PWC

endorsement test is 13 out of 15 questions.• All test questions are based on Chapters 1, 2, 3

and 4 of the Victorian Recreational Boating Safety Handbook.

Powerboat Operator Licence

• You can complete a Marine Safety Victoria approved training course by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and present the Marine Safety Victoria endorsed certificate, within 6 months of completing the course, to VicRoads to gain your licence.

• If you pass this course, you will not need to sit a test at VicRoads, but you will need to pay your one, three or five year licence fee. $29.90, $89.70 or $149.50 respectively.

• PWC endorsement $5.10 pa.

Sound and light signals

Sound and light signals

Sound and light signals

Sound and light signals

Sound and light signalsConduct of vessels in restricted visibility, continued

Distress Signals

Distress Signals

Distress Signals

Distress Signals

Distress Signals

12. Continuously Sounding Fog Horn

13. Burning Pitch on Deck

14. EPIRB ACTIVATION

15. PLB ACTIVATION

SOLAS

• Safety Of Life At Sea• An international maritime safety treaty. • The SOLAS Convention in its successive forms

is generally regarded as the most important of all international treaties concerning the safety of merchant ships

• The first version of the treaty was passed in 1914 in response to the sinking of the RMS Titanic. It prescribed numbers of lifeboats and other emergency equipment along with safety procedures, including continuous radio watches.

• Sections of the treaty The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, requires flag States to ensure that their ships comply with minimum safety standards in construction, equipment and operation.

• It includes articles setting out general obligations, etcetera, followed by an annex divided into twelve chapters.

• [1] Of these, chapter five (often called 'SOLAS V') is the only one that applies to all vessels on the sea, including private yachts and small craft on local trips as well as to commercial vessels on international passages. Many countries have turned these international requirements into national laws so that anybody on the sea who is in breach of SOLAS V requirements may find themselves subject to legal proceedings.

VHF Marine Radio

• Calling Channel 16 or 67. • Monitored 24/7 in Port Phillip and Point Lonsdale by the

harbour-masters “Melbourne VTC” & “Lonsdale VTC”• Requires an appropriate radio licence: Refer ITU-R

– MROCP • (Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency)

– MROVCP• (Marine Radio Operators VHF Certificate of Proficiency)

– GOCP (General Operators Certificate of Proficiency)– First/Second Class Radio Electronics Certificate

• May be used by captain if vessel is in distress

Distress Call

• “Mayday Mayday Mayday THIS IS (name of vessel and call sign)” (…) spoken three times. From french: venez m'aider, meaning "come help me".

• A distress call has absolute priority over all other transmissions and may only be transmitted upon the authority of the skipper or the person responsible for the safety of your vessel.

Distress Message

• “Mayday Mayday Mayday THIS IS (name of vessel and call sign) spoken three times.

• Particulars of your position in – In relation to a well known geographical feature.

Example• a charted feature, “20 metres North of Port Melbourne

Channel Starboard Marker Number 14”• or a description ”half a nautical mile south west of

Breakwater Pier ” OR

– Degrees and Minutes Latitude & Longitude• 37 Degrees 52 Minutes South, 144 Degrees 54 decimal 95

Minutes East

Distress Message

• The nature and kind of assistance required– “Our hull has a large hole; Bilge pump not working; Cant bail fast

enough to keep up. Boat is listing at 30 degrees and rapidly sinking. Will need a to be rescued from water.”

– “we are a 300 metre long super tanker with 210000 m3 of crude oil on board. Struck Gelibrand shoal at 20 knots and are listing 20 degrees to port with a large hole along the port bow through to midships.

• Any other useful information to facilitate rescue including number of people on each vessel needing assistance.

– For example : » “20 Persons On Board. All 20 on board are accounted for

and evacuating to life rafts. Fire is out of control, involves 44 gallons of spilled fuel, and involves a 20 by 20 metre area of the top and middle decks.”

» “5 persons on board Total. 3 persons presently missing. After explosion the Chimney caught fire – require Fire Brigade liaison and assistance”

Urgency Call & Message• When the distress call is not justified. • PAN PAN PAN PAN PAN PAN • ALL STATIONS ALL STATIONS ALL STATIONS • THIS IS • ‘OCEAN RESCUE LAKES ENTRANCE’ x 3• YACHT STANDFAST REPORTED OVERDUE ON VOYAGE

FROM PORT MAQUARIE TO HOBART. LAST RADIO CONTACT 4 JUNE. POSITION 30 NAUTICAL MILES TO SEAWARD FROM CAPE HOWE. FIFTEEN METRE DESCRIPTION

– WHITE HULL – BLUE SAILS – THREE PERSONS ON BOARD

• ALL VESSELS KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT AND REPORT ANY SIGHTING

• OUT

Safety Call

• A safety signal is used when a station wants to pass important safety information such as navigational warnings or weather warnings.

• SECURITE SECURITE SECURITE– Spoken as SAY-CURE-E-TAY

• ‘Securite’ is French for ‘Safety’• For example:

“Say-Cure-E-Tay Say-Cure-E-Tay Say-Cure-E-Tay

All Stations All Stations All Stations

THIS IS

(COASTGUARD RADIO DARWIN) x 3

GALE WARNING LISTEN ON VHF CHANNEL SIX SEVEN

Safety Message

• Change to {nominated station eg} VHF Channel 67• Safety Call is given again then -• Safety message example:

“Say-Cure-E-Tay Say-Cure-E-Tay Say-Cure-E-Tay All Stations All Stations All StationsTHIS IS(COASTGUARD RADIO DARWIN) x 3DALY RIVER TO TORRES STRAIGHT –

NORTHEASTERLY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 KNOTS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST FOR NEXT TWENTY FOUR HOURS

OUT”This is a broadcast call – no responses are expected

directly.

Radio Silence Periods:To increase Safety of Life at Sea in Australia:

Two Silence Periods per hour on all Marine Bands:27MHz, VHF, HF & MF

From the hour to three minutes past the hour ANDFrom the half-hour to three minutes past the half hour

With the exception of distress calls and messages all stations should cease transmission during these periods

There is another Marine Radio band used for large distance ocean traverses known as MF and HF radio. Predominantly uses SSB. 4125, 6215, 8291 KHz – weather reports available on2056, 4149, 6230, 8113 12362 and 16528KHz from Willuna and2201, 4426, 6507, 8176, 12365, 16356 from Charleville.Also available on VHF channel 67.For a broadcast schedule visit: www.bom.gov.au/marine

VHF Marine Radio

VHF Marine Radio

Refer: abccourseonline.com.au

Winds –

• Wind direction is Named from where they come

• Abbreviation Wind Direction• N North• NE Northeast• E East• SE Southeast• S South• SW Southwest• W West• NW Northwest

Trip Preparation

• Sail Plan or Trip Intentions• Vessel Maintenance• Batteries• Fuel • Equipment• Supplies• Clothing• Navigation• Crew

Terminology

Vessel Stability

Length of Vessel

Classes of Waterway

Personal Floatation Device

Personal Floatation Device

Sea Surface Temperature

Heat Escape Lessening Position

Steering and Sailing Rules

Steering and Sailing Rules

Steering and Sailing Rules

Steering and Sailing Rules

Steering and Sailing Rules

Steering and Sailing Rules

Steering and Sailing Rules

Steering and Sailing Rules

Anchoring

Anchoring

Bouyage - IALA

Bouyage System – IALA(International Association of Lighthouse Authorities)

Bouyage System – IALA(International Association of Lighthouse Authorities)

Bouyage System – IALA(International Association of Lighthouse Authorities)

Port Lateral Marks – Red Lights

Bouyage System – IALA(International Association of Lighthouse Authorities)

Starboard Lateral Marks – Green Lights

Bouyage System – IALA(International Association of Lighthouse Authorities)

Starboard Lateral Marks – Green Lights

Marine Pests

• Northern Pacific Sea Star Japanese Sea Weed

Marine Pests• Boat ramp vessels

When leaving • Dislodge all seaweed from your vessel • Drain all harbour water from your vessel • Wash down and dry your vessel and all equipment exposed to harbour water • Do not re-launch in another location before taking these steps• Moored vessels

Before leaving the harbour you must • Maintain your anti-foul system - keep hull and wet areas free of marine growth • Dislodge all seaweed from your vessel • Pump out all water taken from the harbour (or pump out far away from inshore reefs)• Divers • No diving or swimming in harbour without a permit • After diving wash and dry your dive suit and equipment before you re-enter the sea• Anglers

After fishing at Apollo Bay Harbour • Wash and dry fishing equipment used in the harbour before using elsewhere • Do not discard harbour water or seaweed away from the harbour

References

• Wikipaedia

• Victorian Recreational Boating Safety Handbook

• Small Ships

• Marine Radio Operators handbook, AMC