MCA New Small Ships Navigation & Radar Course.

In December 2023, the MCA Workboat Code 3 code of practice is now enforceable for all newly built workboats. Existing workboats have up to December 2026 to migrate over to new code of practice.

Table A5.3 has new requirements for workboat masters and crew.

Radar: “All Masters, and crew likely to use radar shall complete an MCA approved Small Ships Navigation and Radar Course, or alternatively, any course that may be specified as recognised or approved by the MCA (see MIN 698).”

Electronic Chart Systems: “All Masters, and crew responsible for navigation shall complete an MCA approved Small Ships Navigation and Radar Course, or alternatively, any course that may be subsequently specified as recognised or approved by the MCA (see MIN 698). In addition, all vessel owner/operators and Masters shall ensure that all crew including the Master is appropriately familiar with the specific electronic chart systems equipment onboard the vessel.”

iPowerboat Ltd became the first training centre in Scotland to begin delivering the new MCA Small Ships Navigation & Radar course. The company found out that the existing SQA Radar & ECS course would not be accepted for masters and crew after the 31st March 2024

(Existing qualification holders are able to use their SQA qualification provided they can evidence they completed the course prior to the 31st March 2024.)

iPowerboat managed to develop the new course in just a couple of months, which is a testament to the hardworking and dedicated team we have developed.

The course has been developed to mee the MCA criteria, as well as making it applicable for those operating workboat boats.