Pleasure Vessel Competency Training and Assessment Course
The HKSF, has an alternative to the Marine Department's Grade II Pleasure Vessel Local Certificate of Competency. The Hong Kong Sailing Federation courses for the Pleasure Vessel Competency Training and Assessment Course , where candidates do an HKSF set examination. Furthermore, the syllabus is much more practically focused on what the pleasure vessel operator really needs to know.
The advantages are:
• An internally set examination (where the questions are clearly stated and relate to the syllabus).
• The syllabus is more boat operator focused and practical.
The structure is:
• There are nine lectures to provide students with the required knowledge on boat operation.
• Attendance at 80% of the classes is required.
• Homework assignments must be completed and are assessed
• The course combines both Master (Part A) and Engineer (Part B) into one
• Students who passed the internal examination are exempted from taking the Marine Department examination.
• Successful candidates will be awarded a completion letter to be exchanged at Marine Department for the current Grade 2 Master and Engineer Licences upon paying the Marine Department fee for the issue of the licenses. The Grade 1 PVCTA Course is not currently available, but will become available to holders of HKSF PVCTA Grade II in due course.
To be issued with a Pleasure Vessel Grade II Certificate, an applicant must:
(a) Be at least 18 years of age;
(b) Have passed the Marine Department examination or have successfully completed the HKSF PVOL training course and assessment.
(c) Their eyesight is of the standard required by the legislation. People with severe eyesight impairment are advised to take an eyesight test with a registered medical practitioner before taking the course to make sure they are able to fulfill the standard required by the Marine Department. The standard to be reached is as follows:-
| Distant Vision with or without visual aid | Better eye Other eye | 6/9 6/12 |
| Distant Vision without aid when visual aid necessary for above | Better eye Other eye | 6/60 6/60 |
| Near, Intermediate and colour vision, both eyes together, aided or unaided | Vision required for ship's navigation (e.g. chart and nautical publication reference, use of bridge instrumentation and equipment, identification of navigation aids) |
Assuming therefore, that you are over 18 years of age and are able to fulfil the above eyesight requirement, you can do the HKSF course, instead of attempting the Marine Department’s examination.
The course will be held regularly at Olympic House, in So Kun Po, and extend over 10 weekly lessons of two and a half hours. The final lesson will include the examination. The course fee is currently HK$4,500. Please note that the medium for teaching for the course is English.
The application procedure is simple, just download the application form from the Schedule of New Course page and submit it together with a cheque of HK$4,500, made in favour of "Hong Kong Sailing Federation', to the HKSF Secretariat at Room 1009, Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.