PSC, Ltd & Able Seaman Course
Although experience at sea remains an important part of becoming an Able Body Seaman, it is no longer enough to just “serve your time”. As per the United States Coast Guard regulations, an individual must undergo several tests and demonstrate their proficiency in launching and taking command of a survival craft.
Ordinary seaman who are upgrading to AB and wishing to use their sea time to demonstrate their Proficiency as a Lifeboatman may find it difficult while employed in the tugboat or Ferry industry where lifeboats are sparse. To help mariners with this challenge NWMA constructed a purpose build full scale lifeboat davit at Terminal 91. Certification courses are held monthly.
The Northwest Maritime Academy appreciates that people’s time is valuable and we recognize that quality instruction, timeliness and economy are the top concerns for most people who are upgrading to Able Body Seaman. So NWMA has developed an IMO compliant and USCG approved combination Able Body Seaman and Proficiency in survival craft course that can lead to certification in just one weeks’ time. how to get it done quickly? Simple, take our Combined PSC Ltd., & Able Seaman Course.
The first forty (40) hours of this course review the core topics of what it is to be an Able Body Seaman and includes assessments on:
- Rules of the Road
- Seamanship
- Deck General
- Safety
- Marlinspike Seamanship
The next 20 hours of the AB program is a focus on Proficiency in Survival Craft Limited. Think about it, it’s cold, its wet the weather is deteriorating and your only means of support is slipping away under your feet. The order has been given to abandon ship and the water does not look inviting.
The emphasis of this course is on survival and recognizes that when things go badly wrong on board ship, launching a life raft is the last resort. So it is essential that the crew should know what sort of life rafts they have on board, how to launch them, how to board them in an emergency, and how to help others who may be injured, exhausted or unconscious.
Why do we recommend Proficiency in Survival Craft Limited over a Lifeboat course? It’s mostly about time and money, this course is half the time and half the cost. But natural career progression is part of it too, why take a course that is focused entirely on Motor enclosed lifeboats if you work on a ship that only carries life rafts? We believe it is more beneficial for the mariner to learn all there is to know about life rafts first. When the mariner’s career progresses to a ship that carries lifeboats then it is time to take a course.
Course Dates
All scheduled course dates for the AB & PSC Ltd., are published separately on our calendar.
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