Training
Royal Yachting Association Inland Waterways Helmsmen Certificate
This RYA IWHC course includes the following elements:
- Canal safety information
- Manoeuvring the boat to come to the jetty or canal moorings
- Locks
- Sound signals and navigation lights
- General engine information and checks
- Fire
- Man overboard
- Anchoring
- Knots currents, tunnels and signs
- Rules of the road and lots of essential safety advice
- How a boat moves and steers forwards and astern
International Certificate of Competence (CEVNI)
CEVNI stands for Code Européen des Voies de Navigation Intérieure. It is the code governing navigation on the interconnected European inland waterways and is the basis of the various countries' own regulations.
Signs, rules and procdures for navigating the European inland waterways are all included within the CEVNI code and in the same way as pleasure craft on coastal waters are expected to abide by the COLREGS, pleasure craft on the inland waterways of Europe, which in places are heavily utilised by commercial traffic are expected to know and follow the CEVNI code.
Marine VHF radio is the best way of summoning help.
You can contact the coastguard up to 50 miles off-shore and talk to other yachts up to 15 to 20 miles on the open sea.
If you use a marine VHF radio onboard your yacht you are required, by law, to hold a marine radio operator’s certificate.
This is a 2 day course, which on completion, you will be a competent radio operator and know the correct procedure for distress, urgency, safety by means of marine VHF DSC radio.
- VHF communications
- Controls found on marine VHF set
- Channels (simplex & duplex)
- VHF communication range
- VHF DSC (Digital Selective Calling)
- Distress, Safety and Routine Calling
- MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) numbers
- Ships licence and radio regulations
- Voice procedures
- Maydays, Pan-Pans etc.
- NAVTEX
- MSI (Martine Safety Information) broadcasts
- Stations
- Portable safety equipment
- EPIRB (Emergency Positioning Indication Radio Beacons)
- SARTs (Search & Rescue radar Transponders)
Ripon Motor Boat Club
