Profession fisheries boatmaster
Fisheries boatmasters operate fishing vessels in coastal waters performing operations at the deck and engine. They control the navigation as well as capture and conservation of fish within the established boundaries in compliance with national and international regulations.
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Personality Type
- Enterprising / Realistic
- Realistic / Enterprising
Knowledge
- Quality of fish products
Factors affecting the quality of fish products. For instance, differences between species, impact of the fishing gears and parasite influence on the preservation of quality.
- Fishing gear
Identification of the different gear used in capture fisheries and their functional capacity.
- Fisheries legislation
The study and analysis of different fisheries management approaches taking into account international treaties and industry norms in order to analyze fisheries management regulations.
- Fisheries management
The principles, methods and equipment used in population management applied to fisheries: the concept of catch, by-catch, fishing effort, maximum sustainable yield, different sampling methods and how to use sampling material.
- Fishing vessels
Denomination of the different elements and equipment of fishing vessels.
- Risks associated with undertaking fishing operations
General risks occuring when working on fishing boats and specific risks occurring only in some fishing modalities. Prevention of threats and accidents.
- Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
The internationally agreed-upon set of safety procedures, types of equipment and communication protocols used to increase safety and make it easier to rescue distressed ships, boats and aircraft.
- Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the guidelines established for professional fishers.
- International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
The fundamental principals and requirements laid in the International Regulation for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL): Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil, Regulations for the Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk, prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances Carried by Sea in Packaged Form, Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships, Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships, Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships.
- Vessel safety equipment
Gain theoretical and practical knowledge of safety equipment used in vessels, including devices such as lifeboats, life rings, splash doors and fire doors, sprinkler systems, etc. Operate equipment during emergency situations.
- Assessment of risks and threats
The security documentation and any security-related communications and information.
- International regulations for preventing collisions at sea
Fundamental aspects of the international regulations to prevent collisions at sea, such as the conduct of vessels in sight of one another, navigation lights and markers, major light and accoustic signals, maritime signalling and buoys.
- Deterioration of fish products
Process of decomposition and spoilage of fish products: physical, enzymatic, microbiological and chemical processes occurring after harvesting.
Skills
- Coordinate fire fighting
Organize and direct the operations of fire fighting, according to the ship's emergency plans to ensure safety.
- Pollution at sea prevention
Organize and monitor environment protection applying the regulations for pollution prevention at sea.
- Secure cargo in stowage
Secure cargo stowage with basic knowledge of stowing methods; ensure efficient and safe transport of goods.
- Operate ship rescue machinery
Operate rescue boats and survival craft. Launch the boats as required and operate their equipment. Take care of survivors and survival craft after abandoning ship. Use electronic devices to track and communicate location, including communications and signalling apparatus and pyrotechnics.
- Coordinate fish handling operations
Organise fish handling operations to avoid fish products deterioration. Check the cleanliness of the deck and fishing hole before loading and manipulation. Control that the headless, gutted, washed and sorted, if applicable, is performed taking into account health hygiene regulations.
- Assess trim of vessels
Assess the trim stability of vessels, referring to the stability of a vessel while it is in a static condition.
- Manage ship emergency plans
Organize and manage emergency operations, flooding, abandoning ship, survival at sea, search and rescue of shipwrecked, according to the ship's emergency plans, to ensure the safety
- Recognise abnormalities on board
Identify anomalies and abnormalities on board, evaluate them, and take appropriate actions to restore normal operation of ship. Check all (safety) systems for operational functions. Organise actions to be taken in the event of an identified problem.
- Extinguish fires
Extinguish smaller fires such as electrical fires, oil fires, or propane fires, using the adequate portable fire extinguisher. Extinguish larger fires with water, using jet and spray nozzles. Extinguish fires with foam, powder or other chemical agents. Enter and pass through, with a lifeline but without breathing apparatus, a compartment into which high-expansion foam has been injected. Fight fire in smoke-filled enclosed spaces, wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus. Extinguish a fire in a simulated engine room with heavy smoke. Perform rescue operations in a smoke-filled space, wearing breathing apparatus.
- Prepare and execute regular safety exercises
Plan and perform regular safety exercises; maximise safety in potentially dangerous situations.
- Maritime metereology
Interpret meteorological information to ensure the safety of the ship
- Communicate using the global maritime distress and safety system
Send an alert in case of distress, using any of the various GMDSS radio systems such that the alert has a very high probability of being received by either shore rescue authorities and/or other vessels in the area.
- Evaluate schools of fish
Interprete the information provided by electronic equipment and other aid to fisheries to evaluate the characteristics of a school of fish.
- Survive at sea in the event of ship abandonment
Identify muster signals and what emergencies they signal. Comply with established procedures. Don and use a lifejacket or an immersion suit. Safely jump into the water from a height. Swim and right an inverted liferaft while wearing a swim while wearing a lifejacket. Keep afloat without a lifejacket. Board a survival craft from the ship, or from the water while wearing a lifejacket. Take initial actions on boarding survival craft to enhance chance of survival. Stream a drogue or sea-anchor. Operate survival craft equipment. Operate location devices, including radio equipment.
- Provide on-board safety training
Develop and implement on-board safety training programmes.
- Estimate fishery status
Recognize the basic biological data to estimate the status of a fishery: Recognize the captured species by simple ocular observation and compare the amount and size of catches to those of previous periods.
- Operate ship propulsion system
Perform start-up and subsequent observation of the working parameters of the ship's propulsion system. Check the operating parameters of electric generators in the switchboard, power sources and electrical and electronic equipment and navigation lights. Verify that the operating parameters of pneumatic and hydraulic systems are within the values. Perform simple maintenance procedures, repair and replacement of damaged items.
- Assess stability of vessels
Assess the two kinds of stability of vessels, namely transversal and longitudinal.
- Undertake navigation safety actions
Recognise unsafe situations and perform follow-up actions according to the safety regulations. Immediately warn ship management. Use personal protective and rescue equipment.
- Provide first aid
Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.
- Swim
Move through water by means of the limbs.
- Work in outdoor conditions
Can cope with the different climate conditions such as heat, rain, cold or in strong wind.
- Use water navigation devices
Utilise water navigation devices, e.g. compass or sextant, or navigational aids such as lighthouses or buoys, radar, satellite, and computer systems, in order to navigate vessels on waterways. Work with recent charts/maps, notices, and publications in order to determine the precise position of a vessel.
- Provide training
Provide training and orientation to new team members, or assign this task to an appropriately experienced team member.
- Support vessel manoeuvres
Participate in manoeuvres at port: berthing, anchoring and other mooring operations. Contribute to a safe navigational watch.
- Preserve fish products
Place and classify fish products for proper conservation. Maintain suitable conditions for the conservation of fishery products.
- Apply fishing maneuvres
Run shooting and hauling gear operations for its optimal performance, complying with the regulations for a responsible fish and with the security measures.
- Maintain safe navigation watches
Observe principles in keeping a navigation watch. Take over, accept and pass on a watch. Steer the vessel and perform routine duties undertaken during a watch. Observe safety and emergency procedures. Observe safety precautions during a watch and take immediate actions in the event of fire or accident.
- Manage cargo handling
Manage safely the mechanical elements in the loading and unloading of cargo and stores. Organize stowing and unstowing of products to guarantee the stability of the vessel.
- Schedule fishing
Design and implement more effective fishing manoeuvres; given the meteorological conditions and the extractive system.
- Ensure vessel compliance with regulations
Inspect vessels, vessel components, and equipment; ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
- Conduct water navigation
Ensure that a vessel carries up to date and adequate charts and appropriate nautical documents. Lead the process of preparing the voyage report, the vessel passage plan, daily position reports, and the pilot's information sheet.