RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman's Course

Buying or hiring a canal boat? Need a licence for marina or insurance purposes? Considering working on the canal system (you need a licence!)? Need to learn the ropes? Look no further!

Two day boat handling course, non residential. Qualify as a Royal Yachting Association 'Inland Waters Helmsman'!

This is a solo booking advertisement.

To discuss a solo or group booking (maximum three candidates), please contact us on 07527 727169.

Birmingham & Midland Marine Services are based at Gailey Wharf, Watling Street, M6 Junction 12 and the A5, Staffordshire. We predominantly train commercial boatmen and people working in a waterside environment in the civil engineering and events sectors.

We are Workboat Trainers for the Canal & River Trust, formerly British Waterways, and also operate as external assessors to their internal licencing scheme. In addition to this we are approved contractors for marine access, rescue, safety and equipment supply; bridge and tunnel works or canal / river side maintenance and construction works.

With many insurers now asking for training to be taken for novices prior to being able to get cover, and a number of marinas also needing to ensure that their clients have an inkling of how to handle their boat, Birmingham & Midland Marine Services decided early last year to open the training centre to all potential boaters and also to run courses for more experienced helmsmen wanting to brush up their skills and get certified.

As a Maritime & Coastguard Agency, Royal Yachting Association and Royal Life Saving Society training centre we have lots of experience working with a wide range of clients, from complete novices to highly experienced Boatmen who need licencing or water safety training, for commercial activities afloat.

What ever your experience; getting out onto the water under instruction is always memorable and for those thinking of a home or holiday afloat a great place to start to see what it's all about.

On offer is the Royal Yachting Association's 'Inland Waters Helmsman Certificate'.

The IWHC is a two day, non residential course, (you'll need a local hotel for the night in the next village, B&B available locally) training aboard our workboat 'Eiger'. This vessel is used both commercially on bridge and tunnel works and for civil engineering projects in general but is also licensed to train upon. This is a full on work boat with non of the 'niceties' found on residential boats. Think learning to drive a heavy goods vehicle rather than a car... It's a basic boat but that allows you to learn the skills aboard something authentic that can take a knock or two whilst you find your sea legs.

This sale is for one place, training aboard 'Eiger', on a non residential course. Solo bookings will be joined by other individuals looking to complete the course.

Summary; One person training, work boat, non residential. Late winter prices from; £175.00 per person; VAT nil.

THESE ARE SCHEDULED COURSES. TWO OR THREE CANDIDATES BOOKING TOGETHER CAN SPECIFY REQUIRED DATES (WEEKDAYS ONLY) AND IF WE ARE AVAILABLE WILL RUN YOUR PREFERRED DATES.

CANDIDATES WISHING TO UNDERTAKE THEIR RYA INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE PRACTICAL TEST OVER THE DURATION OF THE TRAINING CAN BE ACCOMMODATED BY PRIOR APPOINTMENT. CONTACT US VIA THE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS; BIRMINGHAM & MIDLAND MARINE SERVICES.

RYA IWHC 1 day assessment / exam dates available throughout the year. Contact us for details.

If you wish to book a 'closed course' for three people training together or to make a booking inquiry, find our page on the internet 'Birmingham & Midland Marine Services' (Training Page) and get in touch us via the 'contact page'. We are happy to offer a bespoke course for you at dates of your choosing if we are available to do so. Please ask!

We also have a holiday boat option - residential for up to eight people, short break or weekly / fortnightly hire at up to 30% discount on boat hire if taken in conjunction with the Royal Yachting Association 'Inland Waters Helmsman Course' with three of the party under instruction. Call us for details!

Please see our syllabus below; other courses available include;

In house:

RYA First Aid

MCA BoatMaster Task Record Book completion courses

MCA BoatMaster Water Safety & Personal Survival

MCA BoatMaster Boat Fire Safety

IWA Certificate of Boat Management

RLSS National Water Safety Management Programme (Work within two metres of the waters edge? Water safety training a legal requirement...!)

Via our training Partners:

NCBA Certificate of Community Boat Management

RYA VHF

RQ3 Swiftwater & Flood First Responder, Swiftwater & Flood Rescue Technician, Rescue Boat Operator, Swiftwater & Flood Rescue Boat Operator.

For information on any of the above courses please contact Birmingham & Midland Marine Services.

Course Structure

Birmingham & Midland Marine hopes that your Royal Yachting Association ‘Inland Waterways Helmsman’s Course’ will be a thoroughly enjoyable experience and that after the course you will feel confident out on the waterways.

The pace of life on the canals and the river is nice and easy and we try to reflect this in our instruction style. If you would like something showing to you again then ask! If you are not sure of something, then again, just ask!

We are really happy that you have decided to get instruction and not gone in ‘head first’ and unprepared for what you may experience afloat, so make the most of your time with us. Glad you are here!

Deck work

• Common nautical terms

• Handling warps and fenders

• Throwing a heaving line or coiled rope

• Knots; clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches, bowline.

• Securing to bollards, rings, cleats and mooring stakes

• Anchor work

Helmsmanship and Boat Handling

• Loading and weight distribution

• Steering on a river or canal

• Control of speed

• Inter-action and canal effect

• Turning

• Berthing and un-berthing alongside and between buoys

Personal Safety

• Identification of risks, including cold shock

• Use of lifejackets and buoyancy aids

• Avoidance of personal injury, including crushing of limbs when fending off

• Special risks to children

Boat Safety

• Fire hazards, particularly gas and petrol

• Use of fire extinguishers

• Watertight integrity

• Re-floating after grounding

Engines

• Engine care, checks to be carried out before starting and while running

• Routine periodic checks

Locks

• General understanding of maintenance of levels

• Operation of locks

• Tending lines in locks

Bridges and Tunnels

• General understanding of operation of bridges and use of tunnels

Collision avoidance

• Steering and sailing rules of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

• Bye-laws and local regulations including traffic signals, signs and priorities

• Awareness of other national and local regulations

• Publications to be carried

Care of the Environment

• Avoiding damage to boats, banks, flora and fauna

• Pollution avoidance

• Consideration for other water users

Useful Information

We are at Gailey Wharf near Cannock, Penkridge and Stafford. Hotels available in the vicinity as we are a non residential training centre.