Pleasure Vessel Competency Training and Assessment

Pleasure Vessel Competency Training and Assessment Course

The HKSF finally, after several years of behind the scenes work, have an alternative to the Marine Department's Grade II Pleasure Vessel Local Certificate of Competency examinations up and running. The Hong Kong Sailing Federation (HKSF) is now offering 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.

Thanks must go to Derek Pritchard and Keith Choules and their Committees for the work in evolving the course and running the initial pilot scheme at the Outward Bound School. Keith Mowser for the last two/three years work in getting suitable software written, examination bank of questions and answers written and organized so that HKSF can now produce factual, easily understood, relevant question papers and examinations.

Compared with the existing scheme, 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 examination paper is shorter (30 multiple choice questions).

There are some disadvantages

Attendance at 80% of the classes is required.
Homework assignments must be completed and are assessed.
Master and Engineer are combined into one course.
You are still require to pay the Marine Department fee for issue of the licenses.

The Marine Department new Pleasure Vessel Operator scheme is not yet fully operational, since legislation bringing it into force has not yet gone through Legco. However, the HKSF are able to run their approved courses and assessment, successful applicants will be awarded a completion letter that may be exchanged at Marine Department for the current Grade 2 Master and Engineer Licences. 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 an approved training course and assessment; and

Assuming therefore, that you are over 18 years of age and can distinguish red and green colours at a distance, 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.

Details of the course times are given below and will be on the HKSF website (www.sailing.org.hk). Further details can be obtained for Cora Chen at the HKSF (Tel: 25048159). For enrolment, please complete and return the attached Enrolment Form, together with a cheque of $4,500.00 made payable to Hong Kong Sailing Federation, to Room 1009, Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. The deadline for enrolment is 15 August 2008.

What are you waiting for?

Course Schedule

	Date	Time	Venue	Lecturer
PVCTA Grade II	4 Sept 2008 Thur	1900-2130	Meeting Room 3-4, Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, Causeway Bay	Mr. Vic Locke
	11 Sept 2008 Thur	1900-2130	Meeting Room 1-2,Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, Causeway Bay	Mr. Vic Locke
	18 Sept 2008 Thur	1900-2130	Meeting Room 2-3,Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, Causeway Bay	Mr. Vic Locke
	25 Sept 2008 Thur	1900-2130	Meeting Room 2-3,Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, Causeway Bay	Mr. Vic Locke
	9 Oct 2008 Thur	1900-2130	Meeting Room 5-6,Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, Causeway Bay	Mr. Nic Robinson
	16 Oct 2008 Thur	1900-2130	Meeting Room 1-2,Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, Causeway Bay	Mr. Nic Robinson
	23 Oct 2008 Thur	1900-2130	Meeting Room 1-2,Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, Causeway Bay	Mr. Nic Robinson
	30 Oct 2008 Thur	1900-2130	Meeting Room 1-2,Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, Causeway Bay	Mr. Nic Robinson
	6 Nov 2008 Thur	1900-2130	Meeting Room 2-3 ,Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, Causeway Bay	Mr. Nic Robinson
	20 Nov 2008 Thur Exam	1900-2000	Meeting Room 2-3,Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, Causeway Bay	Mr. Vic Locke