Boatmans Licence Syllabus

The candidate will be asked questions on the following subjects:

• Port and Starboard hand buoys; their purpose, shape, lights, colour
• Cardinal marks; their purpose, shape, lights, and colour
• Isolated danger marks; their purpose, shape, lights, and colour.
• Special marks; their purpose, shape, lights, and colour.
• Safe water marks; their purpose, shape lights and colour.
• Local lights within the area covered by the licence.

• The heights of High and Low water at springs and neaps.
• The spring and neap ranges of tide.
• The strength and direction of harbour tidal streams.
• The charted depth of main channels and dangers.
• The location and use of tide gauges.

• The meaning of variation and Deviation.
• The effect on a compass of interfering items such as electronics and iron.
• Correcting a true course to a compass course.
• Compass headings of local transits.
• Compass courses entering and leaving harbour.
• Working out from the chart a true course to steer between two points.
• Taking a latitude and longitude of a point from the chart.

Rule of the Road

• Action to be taken in head on situations.
• Understanding of the terms short and prolonged blasts.
• The use of sound signals.
• Action on hearing sound signals in reduced visibility.
• Distress signals and their use.

• Speed limits
• Whereabouts and use of the small boat channel.
• VHF channels used for traffic co-ordination and communication.
• Crossing the Harbour entrance.
• Harbour procedure in reduced visibility.
• Other relevant notices.

• Code flags, their colour and single letter meaning.
• Common flag hoists displayed in the harbour by ships.

PRACTICAL EXAMINATION:

• Coming alongside and leaving berths/pontoons.
• Coming to a buoy and allowing for wind and tide.
• Recovery of a man overboard.
• Action in the event of rudder loss.
• Knowledge of local creeks and berths.
• Location and use of vessels safety equipment.
• Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the engine, including pre-start checks, emergency stop, and maintenance procedures.
• Radio procedures.
• Availability of weather reports.
• Action in the event of fire.
• Action in the event of a casualty
• Action in the event of grounding.
• Distress procedures.
• Relationship and responsibility to the public.