RYA Introduces new Powerboat Level II Certification and Central Registration System

Now available at Riviera Sea School to all our Powerboat Level II Students are the new improved RYA Powerboat Level II Certificates. Along with an innovative Central Registration System you will enjoy added credibility to your certification, easy verification should you lose your certificate and greater security minimizing fraud.

If you have any questions regarding the new certificates or if you require information on your current (old style) certificate please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you have not yet obtained your Powerboat Level II certificate and would like to do so, please visit our course pages on our website for further information or please feel free to contact us to make a booking or have a chat with one of our team.

We look forward to hearing from you!

By: Riviera Sea School & Diamond Diving

We are pleased to announce an exclusive partnership with our neighbors in Golfe-Juan, award winning PADI recreational facility, Diamond Diving. Open between the months of April and November, Alex and Noemie, owners of Diamond Diving and both experienced PADI instructors, strive to offer a service second to none to all of their customers, not to mention receiving the “Best Newcomer of 2009″ award from PADI Europe last year!

Diamond Diving Facilities Include:

• 6.15 m Valiant DR620 RIB powered by 135hp Mercury Verado (new in 2009)
• Air conditioned facilities such as showers and toilets
• High quality SCUBAPRO rental equipment (new in 2009)

Location:

Their location in Golfe-Juan is a super spot providing quick access to dive zones off Cap d’Antibes, the bay of Golfe-Juan (including the lighthouse “La Fourmigue” that marks at least five excellent dive sights), and Les Iles de Lerins. Teaching exclusively  in the PADI system, the largest diver training organization in the world, a range of courses from Discover Scuba Diving to Instructor they have something for everyone. Also available are refresher courses for those of you wishing to brush up your current skills, such as the Emergency First Response course and organized fun dives.

A typical day’s Diving at Diamond Diving:

• Meet at 8.45 for your early morning dive
• At Midday you will take a two hour break and enjoy a good lunch at “Snack Napoleon” and take in the view over the marina.
• Meet again at 1400 for you afternoon dive
• After your afternoon dive you will be invited along to have a relaxing drink at the “Saint Pierre” to log your dives, perhaps do a bit of theory and to your diving stories of the day!

What to expect from diving with Diamond Diving:

• Frequently excellent visibility (15-35 meters)
• Rich and dense marine life
• Awesome dive site topography (pinnacles, swim throughs, vertical deep drop offs, canyons and caverns)
• Water temperatures between 15-27 degrees
• A wide range of sites to accommodate your diving preferences and experience
• Superb conditions for underwater photography
• Small numbers, experienced professionals and an emphasis on safety

What our partnership means to you:

All Riviera Sea School customers will receive a 10% discount  on Diamond Diving’s complete price list, to see Diamond Diving’s price list click here. If you would like to know more about Diamond Diving check out their website, www.diamonddiving.net, give them a call, +33 (0) 615 305 223, drop them an e:mail, info@diamonddiving.net or even become a fan of their facebook page “Diamond Diving”.

What is an ICC (International Certificate of competence)?

An RYA ICC is documentary assurance from the United Kingdom government to another that confirms that the holder has reached a certain level of competence. It should be noted that this is not a qualification in its own right and certification or training must first be obtained prior to applying for the ICC.

In general terms an ICC is required for Inland waterways of Europe and for Inland and Coastal waters of Mediterranean countries. Although it is not guaranteed that the ICC will be accepted by all countries it is a reliable document to possess and carry with you when traveling in foreign waters as it is generally accepted where proof of competence is required. Some countries may also accept the ICC as an alternative to their national qualification, this however should never be assumed and we recommend always checking with the local authorities before visiting the area.

Are you eligible?

The RYA rule sate:

“This certificate is available only to British citizens and bona fide British Residents over the age of 16. Evidence of residency for non-citizens will be required in the form of a photocopy of a driving licence, utility bill, Council Tax bill or bank statement etc. Further authenticated evidence of residency for non-citizens may be required. The ICC is acceptable for British citizens or residents using a British flagged vessel for leisure. Other countries may accept the ICC for their native flagged vessels.”

How can I get my ICC?

For the purpose of this article we will discuss the two most common types of ICC:

For power driven vessels up to 10m in length and navigating in coastal waters

In order to obtain your ICC for the above you have two options:

1. Complete your Powerboat Level II course – this is a two day course, which upon successful completion you will be awarded with your Powerboat Level II certificate.

2. Undertake an RYA Powerboat Level II Direct Assessment – this is an assessment of ones current skills, full and half day assessments can be carried out depending on the experience of the participant. Please contact us to discuss your eligibility for this option. If the participant meets the criteria set out in the Powerboat Level II course syllabus you will be awarded with your Powerboat Level II certificate.

Power driven vessels up to 24m in length navigation in coastal waters

Again, you have two options:

1. Complete the RYA Day Skipper practical course, this is a 4 day course which upon successful completion you will be awarded with you Day Skipper Course Completion certificate.

2. Undertake an assessment – here at RSS we generally run 1,2 or 3 day bespoke training courses which will include the ICC assessment upon completion. Please contact us to discuss your suitability for this option.

The Inland (CEVNI) endorsement

The CEVNI test is a short (10-15 min) multiple choice exam that you will be required to take if you wish to navigate European Inland Waterways. Upon successful completion of the exam you will be able complete the necessary parts of your ICC application to obtain this endorsement.

Further Information

The ICC application is free to all RYA members but there will be a fee of 39 GBP to non-members. To become a member of the RYA there will be a fee of around 35 GBP.

If you require your ICC in a hurry you can pay a small fee to the RYA for an express service which will ensure you receive your ICC within two working days of the date they received it.

Your ICC will last for 5 years after which you will be required to renew it. This will involve just a paperwork exercise, you will not need to be re-examined!

When using your ICC as evidence of competency, if you find that regulations or practices differ from those outlined in these pages please e-mail us with your experiences. We aim to keep our customers furnished with the most up to date and relevant information, details of your personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.

For further information on obtaining your International Certificate of Competence, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the RSS team, contact us.

]]> http://www.rivieraseaschool.com/blog/index.php/powerboating-france/the-icc-international-certificate-of-competence/feed/ 0 http://www.rivieraseaschool.com/blog/index.php/powerboating-france/eng1-vs-ml5/ http://www.rivieraseaschool.com/blog/index.php/powerboating-france/eng1-vs-ml5/#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:43:58 +0000 admin http://www.rivieraseaschool.com/blog/?p=483 By: Riviera Sea School, Your Sea School in the South of France (Contact)

You may or may not have heard of the above but the likely hood is that if you are currently working or plan to embark on a career in the Yachting Industry you will come across what is referred to as the ENG1 Medical certificate or even the ML5. Confused? You are not alone, the motivation for writing this blog has been a long string of individuals who have come to us slightly miffed as to what they are all about. All however will be made clear, so keep reading…

The most common need for an ENG-1 or ML5 from a training perspective is if you intend on commercially endorsing your RYA certification. You will be expected to commercially endorse your RYA certification if you take up to 12 paying passengers, i.e charter guests, to sea on a boat up tp 24 meters. If you intend on taking more than 12 paying passengers and/or a vessel greater that 24 meters to sea you may require other qualifications issued by the MCA, for further details, visit their website,  www.mcga.gov.uk.

Now, it is important to note that although the ENG-1 and the ML5 are both medical certificates indicating the state of your current health there are key differences between the two that may affect your limitations whilst at sea:

ENG1

The ENG1 is know as the Seafarer Medical Certificate and is issued by the Government of the UK. This certificate can only be conducted and issued by MCA approved doctors following a full medical exam. For a full list of approved MCA doctors visit the MCA website, www.mcga.gov.uk.

Following the medical exam, if successful, you will be issued with your ENG 1 certificate. This certificate is valid for a maximum of two years. If however you are between the ages of 16-18 you will be expected to renew is annually until you reach the age of 18. Details of what to expect during the exam can be found in the MSN 1765(M) form on the MCA website. This certificate will allow you to commercially endorse certification that permits you to navigate further than 60 miles offshore, for example, the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean certificates of competence.

In the South of France you can expect to pay in the region of €120 to obtain your ENG1.

ML5

ML5 certificate is acceptable evidence of medical fitness for all of those who work on coded vessels up to 60 miles offshore, crew of seagoing local passenger vessels and boatmasters on non seagoing passenger vessels. This certificate can be conducted by any registered medical practitioner in the UK. There are however RYA/MCA accredited doctors overseas who can issue ML5 medical certificates. You will find that the price of this certificate will vary according to the individual doctor you decide to visit.

This license is valid up to five years, if however you are over the age of 65 you will be expected to renew it annually.

The ML5 medical is accepted as an alternative to the ENG1 certificate for skippers on small commercial vessels, up to 24 meters with a maximum of 12 paying passengers, whilst navigating in waters no further than 60 miles from a safe haven.

If you have any experiences to share regarding this issue please do not hesitate to leave a comment below.

‘Team RSS’ are taking part in GO-FASTERS first annual Charity Poker Run on Sat 22nd August. Along with many other offshore/ powerboat owners and enthusiast alike we are very excited about picking up some speed and having a blast on the Cote d’Azur.

With places still available, on behalf of GO-FASTER, we would like to invite you and your friends and family to join us on a super day out. The schedule consists of a Cocktail party on Friday evening where we will be briefed and given our first playing card, on Saturday morning we will load up and set off to pick up our remaining hand. We will then be stopping off in Nice  for our lunchtime fashion show and will later attend the Diner and Prize Giving on Saturday evening. 

Besides the fun however, GO-FASTER are part of the official Paceboat team for the Class-1 World Powerboat Championships, who are supporters of the Qatar Orphan Foundation therefore felt it would be fitting to use this event to raise fiunds for childrens charities and invite members to suggest charities they would like to benefit. 

Please contact Jacqui for further information and details on how to apply, 0033 (0) 618 944 561, jacqui@go-faster.de 

Not convinced?  Then check this out!