Some Guidelines for potential new Marsec Operators

i understand watching casualty wont qualify me as a medic, but i have seen all the episodes of quincy. is that enough?
 
Just completed SSO course with IMSA. Top people. Subject matter was explained, so even a Infantier like myself could understand...Questions were answered to the full.
Also loads of Bootie humour thrown in, which helped. Good contacts made as well. Would recommend IMSA to anyone starting out in this line of work.
Now, all I need is a transit............
 
I think it would be helpful if your checklist also included something about insurance and what you should have or expect your marsec company to have.

There is an awful lot of confusion as to what is out there and the differences between Employers Liability Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance and the like. You should it seems to me have a sensible level of PA and loss of life. Some companies rely only on Employers liability Cover which if you are an operator on board is not sensible as it involves you suing the marsec company and there are real issues as to whether employers liability cover covers you at sea particularly if you are a sub contractor and not an employee.
 
From a current recruiting drive of a well reputed MARSEC employer....

5 years minimum Regular or Reserve service
Testimonial/Valedictory Letter
2 X References
ENG1 Seafarers Medical
STCW 95 (Minimum 4 modules)
Criminal Records Bureau Check
SSO/MSO Course Certificate
Specialist certificates: Coxswain, Sniper, Trauma Medic, etc
Seaman's Card and Discharge Book (if issued)
Yellow Fever & Passport

Hopefully that makes things fairly clear. Obviously other employers can and will have other levels of expectation, but this gives a reflection of the current standard required.
 
This is an absolutely cracking thread. I am currently looking at maritime security qualifications. I am currently in the police and have been so for the last 5 years. I do enjoy it, however I am looking at back up plan as there are going to be major changes over the next five to ten years and I want to have an alternative career should things get really bad.

Any ex-cops made the jump to maritime security?
 
This is an absolutely cracking thread. I am currently looking at maritime security qualifications. I am currently in the police and have been so for the last 5 years. I do enjoy it, however I am looking at back up plan as there are going to be major changes over the next five to ten years and I want to have an alternative career should things get really bad.

Any ex-cops made the jump to maritime security?

And you think it's going to be any different in MARSEC? I hope things tighten up with MARSEC and some sort of complaince across the board is agreed by all, and everyone sings from the same songsheet..has anyone actually thought about the Seamans Union or the TGWU these days if things are not what they seem, for those in possesion of seamans cards?
 
Mate, you're talking crap! All of the courses you've mentioned are requirements to work in Maritime Security, Bosiet is about the most non essential one thats required unless you're doing North Sea Oil platforms or such, along with SIA.
You tell me what Maritime company is going to take on someone that has no SSO, no Seamans book, no STCW 95. Have you ever been on the water yourself, do you even have any of these qualifications yourself.

I would advise anyone wanting to work in Maritime Security to gain STCW 95, SSO and at least a Seamans book, this book is like your passport but on water and gives you 40kg baggage when checking in at airports. Make it easier for both you and your potential employer by having these, also take a criminal records check with you, more and more companies are asking for this.
 
A bit of back and forth on another thread and info that might be useful to some so posting it at the top table!

Cut to the chase here.

Is a VHF (SRC) Radio course an entry level requirement for PCASP or Maritime Security Operators?

In my humble and experienced opinion NO!

If it’s a case of voice procedure or radio discipline, given that the majority of PCASP etc are former military personnel they have far better voice procedure and radio discipline than your average merchant seaman and in many cases have conducted voice comms during live operations under stress in HRA.

Most PCASP will never talk externally of the vessel and will generally only use VHF for internal team comms if not using UHF. A TL may occasionally want to talk to another vessel or may be asked by the Master/OOW to communicate externally. Unless it’s a real worst case scenario and the bridge team are no longer on the bridge, external comms will always be sent by or by permission of the Master/OOW.

As to emergency transmissions i.e. Mayday, Pan Pan, Securite etc, again they will always be sent by the bridge team. Worst case scenario and no bridge team, there are enough aide memoirs, bridge cards etc on most bridges with the relevant info to hand to enable the most comms challenged person to send VHF emergency voice comms.

The vessel comms fit should always be part of the vessel familiarisation conducted by the TL.

I am not saying that undertaking a VHF radio course is not good knowledge to have but as an entry requirement for PCASP………….

John, GMDSS GOC

Regards Radar courses as an entry requirement for PCASP/Marsec Operators!

Looking at this from an experienced seagoing/offshore background with professional seagoing qualifications, given the complexity of the modern day ARPA on the bridge of most commercial vessels, I am of a mind that there is far more to be gained by the individual marsec operator asking the 2nd OOW who he is on watch with at O Crack Sparrow Fart in a morning to teach him the basics and terminology.


The interpretation of the picture takes time and experience to learn and will be improved upon every time the individual operator stands a watch on the bridge.

You can only lead a horse to water and a good TL/Operator who wants to invest in himself will take the time to learn the wide variety of competencies that the bridge team have to have to be in the positions they are in.

If the operator then wants to invest in formal courses like Radar and VHF Radio so be it…………but again, as a pre requisite to employment……………..

John

It’s all a case of perspective and given that there are not yet any clearly defined entry standards (many pending) no one can be right or wrong.

From my operations and training experience perspective it’s all about delivering a guy on to the bridge of a vessel with the basics to operate effectively in what too many is an alien environment.


With all these combined courses on offer now of varying lengths from 8 days to 21 days there is some serious risk of training fatigue, we like to think that we make our SSO+ course a little more interesting than most with all the added extras and the experience we bring to the table, that said in the most part and by its very nature it can be death by PowerPoint for long periods. We get many guys who whilst being complimentary as to what they have learned admit to finding it a lot to take in and especially if they do not come from a maritime background. If you then throw in the mix an STCW 95 Basic course straight away followed by numerous other classroom based short courses and there is a risk of “in one ear and out the other”

Again one man’s perspective! To get the guy onto the vessel ready to do the basics and irrespective of the many and varied entry qualification/competency requirements across all PMSC.

He needs to have an understanding of the security code of practice that merchant seamen work to i.e. the ISPS code. He needs to have an understanding of the etiquette and chain of command onboard a merchant vessel. He should come with basic safety courses under his belt akin to what merchant seaman have to have. He needs to understand the PMSC SOPs and RuF and his roll derived from them. He needs to have an understanding of BMP/SPM (Industry terminology, not mine) and the layered defence approach. He needs an induction into the kit and weapons specific to task.

The first function of the PCASP is surveillance/watchkeeping on the bridge. Former mil personnel are generally diligent and conscientious and the Mark 1 eyeball is critical.

Their primary function is not to watch the radar or send VHF voice comms to other vessels. As a point in question. The low, slow and unarmed vessel I was TL on last year which was boarded under fire from a PAG did not pick the skiff up on radar, the Mark 1 eyeball of a diligent marsec operator did!

As stated previously, a good but inexperienced operator will put himself about and learn what he can from those in the know on the bridge or the vessel in general.

No rights and wrongs in a very confused training market, just one man’s perspective.

John
 
Is a VHF (SRC) Radio course an entry level requirement for PCASP or Maritime Security Operators?

In my humble and experienced opinion NO!

If the course and certification were purely to do with voice comms then I might agree, but it is not. As you know, there is a whole load of course material that deals with beacons and signals in general. Add to that the value of knowing what ought to be happening in a routine or distress situation and being able to compare that to what is actually taking place, that has real value to an experienced and otherwise well informed operator.

In short, why spoil an otherwise well rounded CV and record for the sake of a one day course and 80 quid.

If someone offered a course that was specifically written for security personnel, now that would be even better. :)
 
SSO, STCW YES two musts.Done my sso with John cracking course. More entry level courses? crap Get men out on the water to see A If they are suitable B If they can hack the time away from terra firma. Dont make guys pay hard earned dosh to find out that they dont like it ,and or are totally restless onboard so far as not being able to function as a team member.Dont count the vaccinations as a cost cos if you dont get them you are mad....
Also interviews done as a forum lets say by skype would save both operators & employers alot of time & money
 
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