Many of our shore-based courses can be taken online, allowing you to study in your own time.
Please have a look at the course details below for more information and available dates. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us on 0131 319 1820 or email bookings@portedgarwatersports.com.
All our courses are delivered by our partner company Edinburgh Marine Academy.
To make a booking directly with Edinburgh Marine Academy CLICK HERE Please note that this will take you to the Edinburgh Marine Academy website.
RYA Professional Practices and Responsibilities
A compulsory online course for new and revalidating RYA Commercial Endorsement holders
The course is broken down into four modules:
Commercial environment – how you fit into the professional maritime world.
People – the importance of correct manning, keeping your skills up to date and the safe management of commercial vessels.
Vessel – the compulsory carriage and maintenance of safety equipment and how to create and implement risk control and operating procedures. ·
Purpose – making sure your vessel is suitable and legal for the work you are carrying out, your obligations in protecting the environment, appropriate planning and situational awareness.
Following the modules there is a mock assessment so you can check you are ready before moving on to the final graded online assessment.
We estimate users will take around 6 to 8 hours to work through the four course modules. The graded end of course assessment is split into two sections, totaling 2 ½ hours.
On booking this course we will advise your login details for the RYA Interactive site
Cost: £39
RYA Safe & Fun Safeguarding Course
This new course is suitable for anyone working with children and vulnerable adults in an RYA environment. This includes those volunteering or working at recognised training centres and affiliated clubs.
It provides a basic level of knowledge and awareness, put in the context of realistic scenarios that anyone could encounter at their club or centre.
From April 2015 onwards it will be a requirement for all newly qualifying Level 2 Racing Coaches, Dinghy and Windsurfing Instructors and Senior Instructors to complete this course prior to their instructor/coach training course.
On booking this course we will advise your login details for the RYA Interactive site
Cost: £25
RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship
A perfect introduction to navigation and safety awareness, this course is ideal for powerboat skippers, dinghy cruisers, sea anglers, divers, or anyone wanting an introduction to navigation before progressing on to one of the more advanced navigation courses.
We will provide you with the course pack which includes a chart, plotter, dividers, course handbook (this is electronic for the Online course), exercises and an electronic chart plotter CD.
The online course will take around six hours, but the beauty of it is that you can work through it at your own speed, whenever and wherever you like. Once you have signed up we aim to send you log in details and links within 2 working days.
Cost: £115
RYA Marine Radio
This course is available as a 1-day classroom course or online. Both require a separate 2-hour exam (normally on the following day for classroom courses).
This course for anyone who owns a fixed or handheld marine VHF radio. A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures.
The Short Range Certificate is the minimum qualification required by law to control the operation of VHF and VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) equipment on any British flagged vessel voluntarily fitted with a radio. This includes both fixed and hand held equipment using International channels.
A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures. Unnecessary transmissions could block out a Mayday distress call.
All new VHF sets are either fitted, or can be interfaced, with DSC allowing calls to specific vessels. If you hold the ‘old’ VHF licence (pre-1999) you need to upgrade your qualification if you purchase new equipment. This can be done by attending this one-day course or, if no tuition is required, you can enter for direct examination.
Course topics include:
- The basics of radio operation
- The correct frequencies (channels) to be used
- Distress, emergency and medical assistance procedures
- Making ship to shore telephone calls
- Digital Selective Calling (DSC) using simulators
- Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
- Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB)
- Search and Rescue (SART)
The exam will also include a short written test and using radio simulators.
Cost: £79
Please note there is a additional RYA exam and license fee of £60. We offer Exam Only option but you must have completed the course online or at another training centre and have a course completion number before you can take the exam.