http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100205/local/nautical-licence-to-become-compulsory-for-engines-from-30hp-up
Nautical licence to become compulsory for engines from 30HP up
Transport Malta has reduced the threshold in the requirement for a nautical licence to drivers of all mechanically driven craft having engine/s output of 30HP or more.
Such requirement, shall be effective as from January 1, 2011.
At present, a nautical licence is obligatory for craft powered by engine/s of 100HP or more.
Transport Malta said the provision was coming into force in 2011 to allow adequate lead time to the people affected to undergo the necessary training at the training institutions recognised by Transport Malta.
A nautical licence is issued to applicants who successfully complete the Basic Seamanship Course and pass Transport Malta's examination at the end of such course.
another tax!
About time....... I still cannot understand the reasoning why only form 30hp up though! Smaller boats with smaller engines can still reach high speeds. And what about tenders being driven by little kids?
windsurfers,horses,skateboards and even bikes can be driven to high speeds. how about joggers needing a licence!
Totally agree Bryan. My boat has a 240HP engine, and top speed of 25knts, but small 12 footers with a 25HP outboard can go much faster...not to mention jet skis....yes, even tender boats with 8HP outboards...driven by kids. What we need is enforcement, not only licences
okies
anyone interested to join in the basic seamanship course before summer.
Cost 130euro from mcast.!!!
Ma hemmx x'taghmel?? That's the way things go in our island! They order and we obey>..
QuoteAbout time....... I still cannot understand the reasoning why only form 30hp up though! Smaller boats with smaller engines can still reach high speeds. And what about tenders being driven by little kids?
QuoteTotally agree Bryan. My boat has a 240HP engine, and top speed of 25knts, but small 12 footers with a 25HP outboard can go much faster...not to mention jet skis....yes, even tender boats with 8HP outboards...driven by kids. What we need is enforcement, not only licences
*1000000000000000000000000000000000000000
about time......
should be for any mechanically operated watercraft as at the end of the day, should an accident occur, someone has to stand up to the responsibility.
@ cladaland.... i do not agree with you saying this is another tax...
1 attending this basic course can help prevent accidents and save lives.... don't judge before succesfully completing the course....
2. for many of us owning and using a boat is a luxury and not a neccesity (not refering to full or part time fishermen).... if you don't afford Lm50 for your and others safty compared to the amount spent for and on the boat, then step of the sea.
Trust me, this course is worth every cent..... you will realise this when you are navigating, especialy at night...... trust me.
Any idea where to apply for this course cos probably there will be ques in 2011 were maltese uxxxxx. better now .
i had a look in the old mma site or better te reformed tm site but no indications on course dates. :(
Any of you intended to apply for such a course let me know.
I am organising one.
i'd be interested Baghira.
Those interested should write so that we meet up and apply together, and we might be in the same course.
Classes of 30 persons, and you need to apply now to get it for this summer.
All we need is a photocopy of ID
Application which will be filled on site or downloaded
Full payment of 130 euro (this is refundable if something crops up)
And we go monday to friday from 9am to 12pm or 2pm to 4pm.
The course would take 8 days evenings.
for further info visit mcast website as they provide the course.
I would be interested to attend, but does anyone know if a similar course is available after 5pm?
right since i work up to 5.00pm
I have done the course about 9 years ago. Its interesting and worth the money spent.
and at that time i did nt need it. Just for knowledge etc.During that time it was stated that the lic would one day become necessay for all engine driven boats . now it isl happening.
For those who want to join.
Meeting in front of Mcast, Corradino hill, Paola at 3:00pm sharp, next thursday 11th feb.
I just did this course a couple of wekkes ago and i must say that it is very interesting guys. and for sure you'll learn from it. i just have a 9.9hp engine but i think it is important for everyone to take the course
I did this course when I've still had a 9.9 and it was really worth it and I've learned a lot from it.
when i did the course they had courses till 8.00pm but it would be better to ask when you'll be booking the course.
Still can't understand why this is not done to every boat since you can kill someone even with a 6hp and in Malta we still have a lot of boats with inboard engines declared as HP instead of BHP. For example my outboard is 20HP but on the hood it states 115BHP and I pay for that power. There are still a lot of boats with example 17hp engine but the Bhp is 75 and they are declared as 17hp/or bhp!!!! ???
This is the part-time schedule from MCAST. http://www.mcast.edu.mt/courses_parttime.asp#8
I have also queried a course by Malta Powerboats School which takes place on 2 days. The certificates received is valid to sit for Nautical Licence by MMA. Course fee is €300 but €250 for February.
baghira on thursday starts the course or we apply ? you are doing 8 evening classes or 3 full days ?
thursday we book. they cannot give you the dates, they have to see the number, contact MMA and then issue the dates.
I am doing 8 times evenings. But then everyone decidec what suits him best. we would also cehck the time being held.
ok c u thursday
it seems that there are no courses available in gozo.
do you know the time and days of the course
I ll cu there !!! 3pm at mcast....
Chrisxue when I called Mcast Gozo centre they told me that they are about to make a course but the class is full.
thx shaftbomb i will call and see if they do them in summer when im on holiday.
Nobody knows time and dates. You have to apply first, then they see how many applied to be able to split people into groups.
how can you apply before knowing the time and dates. if you apply and in those days or time you cant what happens
you're screwed......
the time is: first week from 5pm till 8pm each day, then on the 2nd week 2 days from 4pm till 8pm. then you will have a practical exam in the morning and an oral exam after 5pm
NO nobody is screwed. If you can't make it in the first group you can make in the second group. And if you decide not to do the course, the money is refundable.
I phoned yesterday and the times are as rodfar posted. The practical is in the second week at 8.30am. The 3 full day course is from 9.00am till 7.00pm and on the 4th day the exam. I first thought of taking 4 days leave to make course in short time but a friend of mine told me there's plenty to study: 26 nautical flags (name and meaning), various lights and knots besides other things. So the full days course might be too tight to remember everything.
right guys.
iebes jidher
all you need to study can be found online....... you can start studying them from now...... i'll try get you a list of things you need to learn so as to be prepared in advance.
http://grandlaker.com/images/flags/flags.gif
Learn flag colour, name of flag and what it means.....
ex, 1)white and blue, alpha, A , Diver down & Keep clear of me.
2) all red , bravo, B, dangerous cargo
3) horizontal blue white red white blu, Charlie, C , Yes...
and so on.
examiner will show you the flag, so the most important is the name and what it means.
ps, the examiner is NOT there to fail you so if you put in some effort, you'll pass.
I had bought the flags from Gauci Borda,even the lights are important guys and they are the most difficult i think.You need to study and dont worry because you will pass ...Good Luck to all ;)
then there are the basic knots which are very useful. you may follow this link http://www.uspowerboating.com/knots.htm
You will only need the Basic knots if I remember correctly.
You can get a pack of cards with all the lights displayed on the different boats from the marine supply shop in Gzira.Last shop on the right past Manuel Island heading towards Valleta.They also have cards with the Flags on.If this shop has run out of them try on of the other shops on the same side.
also...... the differant bouys are important....... although the cards mentioned above are quite convinient, you don't really need them.... im sure you'll find it all online..... i'll try list all the important items you need to pass.....
does anybody know if taking a similar course abroad would count for malta?
If you do it at gozo yes..... ;) ;D :D
so that means a big NO
not neccesarily..... if you have the Yachtmaster, you might be exempt from the course and the exam..... BUT THIS IS JUST MY ASSUMPTION.
Chrisxue just visit malta for 5 days to do the course and come back.....that's what im gonna do. In Gozo they usually do the course from Friday to Monday and the exam on tuesday.
i can only stay in malta 3 weeks and im planning to come after santa marija so i dont know if there will be any courses going on at that time
does anybody know if the answering pennants (the reapeaters)are included in this course?
no the answer pennants ar not necessary. only the alphabet and the most important are: A B D G H O U V W.
if someone has any questions just text me, its better now cause im still fresh from the exams heheh :P
great rodfar,thanks very much!
Relax guys the course is fun, sure u have to study, but its very i repeat VERY interesting and if u focus you have no problem in passing, remember its for you and those arournd you in the water and its for your safety, no other course is accepted instead of it , my friend a captain on gozo channel had to do the course and test ( he passed ) ;D the only person who did not pass was a guy who kept saying that he would not pass and when he came for the test he got tounge tied. and he got another chance on another day so believe me, you are going to come out of there smiling and saying why did i not do this course before, MONEY WELL SPENT
Hi - this is my first post - just picked up the thread about licence for over 30 hp engines. I seem to be a bit late according to some of posts already here. Will these courses be all through the year? i'll be back to UK shortly for a few weeks and not back till mid April so wondering if i'll be able to take the course. Will they be in English?
All advice will be welcome - thanks
If you would like to attend a course in English I suggest you send in your registration with MCAST asap and indicate English. They only run courses in English when there are sufficient numbers....so best to get your name down.
Welcome to the forum :)
thanks for answering Skip - do you have any address or phone number please.
cheers
Mick
this is all you need mate: ::)
For further details about Part-Time (Short) Courses and online applications please visit www.mcastshortcourses.gov.mt.
For further details please call 00356 23987100 or email information@mcast.edu.mt
You can also visit the ETC Training Subsidy Scheme (TSS): http://www.etc.gov.mt
Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh where do you find better information??????????????????
Only In Malta Fishing Forum.
a home for all anglers divers and co :)
I applied to Mcast for my licence, but got fed up of waiting for an english course.
The guy on the next berth to me, a maltese guy, told me about the RYA course, he said that he had done both, the Mcast course and the RYA course, he said he learnt far more on the short RYA course, than he did on the Mcast course.
I believe the Mcast course is split into about 1 weeks course, the RYA course was over two days, the RYA course is around €100 more than the Mcast course.
The ticket you get on the Mcast course is only good for Maltese waters.
The ticket you get on the RYA course is valid anywhere in Europe.
Captain Gus
Mcast is a either a one week course or if you want 3 consecutive days course which costs €130.
Captain Gus - RYA course costs €300. Only up till end of February there's a discount of €50. I have acquired notes from a friend of mine who did course at MCAST. There's plenty to study. So I can't just imagine how a 2-week course at MCAST is enough to get everything in mind from a 2-day course at RYA unless ......?????? Leave everyone for their conclusions!!
there's plenty to study but what you really need can be summerised in 6-10 pages.
So if I'm understanding correctly the RYA course is valid to obtain the nautical licence.
Malvizzu
The Mcast course is spread over two weeks but it is something like two hours a night.
The RYA course is two or three complete days. Depending on your knowledge of the subject matter. The RYA course is also valid anywhere in Europe, should you need it.
Captain Gus
where do you apply for the RYA course? has anyone else taken it yet? is anybody still waiting to do MCAST course in English?
are they planning to do the English version during the year?
RYA Course: Mob. 99873509 (an English speaking guy answers).
Busumark, ForTuna - did you here anything from MCAST about course? I'm still in the dark as when we are starting lessons.
Nope.... still waiting If i remember very well she did say towards the end of may!
nothing, they said sometime april may
Next week we will have our nautical course in Gozo....
Buqqqqqqqq nobody called yet.
i've just received the letter, 5th april
Daniel
Good luck Shaftbomb.
I am attaching a file that I've created with all the nautical flags. Anyone doing the course can print this file and cut flags individually to study them. I'm trying to find time to do it myself >:( before the course starts. Hope it helps. Also here is a link to an online exercise after one has studied all the flags. http://www.marinewaypoints.com/learn/flagtest/flagtest.shtml
Oh my lord |i just tried that flag test and.............I couldnt get one right.........
You're not giving me much hope Shanook ;D
This link gives you the Alphabet and the meaning of the flags and also a link to the flags that represent numbers.
http://www.sailorschoice.com/seamanship/alphabet_pennants.htm
Study in pairs if you can, I'm afraid for these things it's back to school and keep that A4 doubled sided guide they gave you at the begining of the course handy so you keep looking at it, dream about it if need be!!
Take note, B is not Beta but Bravo.. was in malvizzu's pdf.
If you study you will pass,i used to find the lights harder then the flags :) Just keep everything with you and when you have a minute just revise them and then you will get everything in your head..good luck to all
Thanks Robby for indicating the mistake. PDF file is amended. Apologies guys!
tergax ;D
Ahfirli sir!!! ;D
Lesson 1:
november echo echo delta
tango oscar
golf oscar
foxtrot india sierra hotel india november golf
What does it mean?
Need to go fishing.
Whisky echo lima lima delta oscar november echo.......
Lesson 2:
Tango alpha kilo echo
mike echo
tango oscar
yankee oscar uniform romeo
foxtrot india sierra hotel india november golf
hotel oscar tango sierra papa oscar tango........
........
new students only, so you practice
as if ...no way rob........well maybe because its u only.........well put it this way I show u mine u show me yours............How that!?!?!?!?!
Good one guys ;D ;D ;D
ok shanook....... stand to be amazed........... ::)
do i need to change my long distance spectacles to binoculars ?!?!?!?!??!!
you won't need any spectacles ::) hahahahahaha
I did the test last Tuesday. Of 27 people only one did not pass the test. They asked us an average of 6-7 flags each which looking back is not really hard to memorize. As for me, I found the lights harder to memorize, with one examiner asking all of the lights to test takers! However looking back the course in general is very interesting although hard to memorize all the book in a 4 day course! Good luck to all of you....
can you give us more detatails of what was asked during the test ;)
Make a bowline.
What is the speed one can drive with in a marina?
What is the speed one can drive with in a port?
What distance should you keep from a sandy beach?
Around 6 flags.
Around 6 different lights.
Explain one cardinal mark and an isolated danger mark.
How do you refuel?
What fire extinguishers you keep onboard?
Do you go out in force 5-6 wind?
From where do you read your weather forecast?
What do you do if you are caught in fog when out fishing?
Placing two boats on the table, the examiner asked which one is the stand on boat and which one is the give way boat.
Result: Pass! :)
my god ......... he was mean to you!!!!!!!!
Not at all - these are extra simple questions that all boaters should be proud to know......I memorized the flags in 2-3 days....
you misunderstood me, i did the test and passed last summer..... although i know the above he only asked just over half those things......
thanks mate gr8 help to study till the course begin.
Thanks in advance
Thanks Shaftbomb.
The funny thing about this course is that Mcast don't give you the study book when you apply for the course and then you have to learn everything in 4 days which is almost impossible. We protested with our tutors but all of them told us that they are not involved in Mcast decision making but only tutoring.....
I have managed to memorise all the flags in the last 4 days I spent in Gozo for the Easter holidays with my family. The fact that I was relaxed and had ample time helped even more. I'm not sure regarding the lights and the rest to study after a whole day's work, let alone in 4 days when the course begins.
Just received a notification from MCAST, Course starting 26th April!!!!
Me too. Received notification today. Room 6.
Me too 26th april room6
me too 26 april room 6
Could anyone who has done the MCAST Safe Boathandling course recently post more questions please? This would ensure that the next lot of candidates can train on the questions asked. Any help would be appreciated.
what to do if you are caught in 'cpar'!!
This question freaked me out..
You have to go at a slow pace and sound the horn.
What to do if you hit a rock with the boat and you are taing water.
Either swear or Pray God :) lol - Better the second
Yes I think the answer should be to sound the horn at least once every two minutes and go at enough speed to give you steerage and no more. Should you be stationery in fog (as in fishing but not trolling or moving, at anchor) then five seconds bell every minute!
actually its like this........
if you've got engine power and making way, one long blast every 2 min
if you've got power but not making way, 2 long blasts every 2 min
if you're anchored, 5 sec bell or long blast every minute....... if vessel is longer than 100m, you add a short, than long than short blast after the 5 second blast.
if you're aground, same as anchored but you add one of 3 seconds before and one of 3 seconds before and after the 5 second bell.
if you are not under control, constrained by draft, towing or pushing or have restricted maneuverability or fishing, its one long blast and two shorts ones after every 2 minutes.
if you're being towed or pushed....... its one long blast and 3 short ones after that.
from the book given whilst taking the course........
OMG
slow down robby
Its just some hint he needed.........!!!
sorry but i love the topic to much...... :-[ :-*