Industry Qualifications

Jargon and Etiquette

(Street Cred)

Do you know your Port from

your Starboard (Stbd)?
STCW 95 +
 Marsec Industry Standards?

What Industry Standards?

Aim

To discuss the Qualifications,

Certification and Industry speak
(street cred) that might help you in
your career in MARSEC
 Objectives
By the end of this module you will
understand:

• The numerous qualifications and certification that might

be required in the Marsec world
• IMSA thoughts on qualifications and certification
• The way that the commercial maritime industry speak
The Jargon that means the difference between you winning the
confidence of the Master/OIM or being a second class citizen
for the duration of your contract!
• Points you should consider before embarking on a
Marsec contract
 THERE ARE NO MARSEC INDUSTRY
STANDARDS

HOWEVER……….!
The majority of companies operating in the maritime security sector require
their operatives to have certain qualifications.
The problem is there is no industry regulatory body so these requirements
vary across all companies.

To complicate things, shipping companies are becoming increasingly

uneasy at the levels of competence of some of the security operatives on
their vessels. Shipping companies are increasingly asking companies to
provide security operatives with minimum seafaring qualifications.
 EXPERIENCE
As the old saying goes:
“There is no substitute for experience”

•BEST
•Good Maritime Military background and preferably
Marine/Naval Infantry but not essential
•NEXT BEST
•Military background and preferably Infantry,
Marine Police

COMMERCIAL Maritime experience is a

bonus…..but eh! We all have to start somewhere
 Qualifications & Certification
Forgetting Marsec for the minute………

International Convention on Standards of Training,

Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978
(1995 Amendments)
STCW 95
Are the means by which the Merchant Navy (and to a
degree the Oil & Gas Industry) Certificate, Accredit
and award Qualifications to Seafarers.
SSO is an STCW qualification (A-V1/5)!
Basic Training for Seafarers (STCW
Table A – V1/1)
Duration: 5 days
•Elementary First Aid
•Personal Survival Techniques
•Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
•Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities

The basic minimum standard for

seafarers
Nice to have
(No hard and fast rules)
Seaman’s (Discharge) book/card

A discharge book is a continuous record of a seafarers service.

 It is the personal possession of the seafarer.  The British
Seaman's Card is similar to a British Passport and is
internationally accepted, allowing seafarers to land at foreign
ports without having to obtain visas.  The card is surrendered
to RSS by the seafarer when he/she leaves seagoing
employment.  Guidance notes on qualifying criteria are
attached to the application form.
 Nice to have cont…..
• Powerboat level 2
• This two-day course provides the skills and background knowledge needed
to drive a powerboat (RIB) and is the basis of the International Certificate
of Competence

• BOSIET Basic safety induction and emergency training for those

wishing to work in the offshore oil and gas industry

• Fast Rescue Craft Operators Certificate

 Nice to have cont…..
• ENG1 Medical Certificate
The main form of medical fitness certification for those who work
at sea is the ENG1 medical fitness certificate (UK)
(or recognised equivalents from other countries)

• Join Nautilus International

The Nautilus International mission is to be an independent financially viable
international trade union and professional organisation, committed to equal
opportunities, providing a high quality, cost ‑effective service to members and
welfare to needy seafarers and their dependants.
http://www.nautilusint.org
 The contentious one’s……
There are numerous qualifications that some
companies require you to have that have no
relevance to service at sea but do have
security connotations.
•Close Protection Training (CP)
•SIA License (UK)
 Industry Speak (Jargon)
You walk on to the bridge of a vessel off Salalah having just arrived by Pilot
boat at night.

The Master is anxious to get underway (time is money) but he/she also want to
meet THEIR security team.

Introductions over the Master asks you what he can do for you (he is looking
to you for guidance)

You state…….cont
“ Right Skipper, can you turn those Red
and Green lights off”
“Now let’s have a look at the map”

Anything wrong with those two

statements?

You will be!

It could be dark when you arrive and the vessel
could be at darken ship so the only feel for your
personality the Master will get could be your voice

You have got as little as 30 seconds to gain his

confidence or lose him for the duration of your stay.
A ship can be a very lonely place for a Team Leader
(TL) if you don’t have the Master and his/her crew
on your side.

He/She needs to know that you understand his

working environment and to do this you need to
speak their Industry Lingo (Language)
Right Skipper, can you turn those Red and Green lights off”
“Now let’s have a look at the map”

Anything wrong with those two statements? YES!

In general:

Fishing vessels have Skippers

Merchant vessels have Masters or Captains
Naval vessels have Captains

Red and Green lights are navigation lights and along with masthead, stern and
special lights are generally referred to as steaming lights or running lights!

Vessels have Charts Not Maps

 People in specific positions at sea/offshore have
earned their titles and as a basic courtesy deserve
to be addressed correctly.

It’s a little like turning up for a job interview in a suit and

tie, you can always dress down afterwards.
Get it wrong first time though and you have a job on your
hands doing a regain.

Using the correct terminology shows an understanding of

the environment you are in and will always stand you in
good stead.
 A good place to start is before you first walk on to the
bridge of a vessel and never mind whether it is a fishing
vessel, superyacht, cruise ship, oil tanker, Naval vessel etc
etc.

Utter the Immortal words………….

“PERMISSION TO COME ON TO YOUR BRIDGE

CAPTAIN”
 NAUTICAL/OFFSHORE
TERMINLOGY

Commercial:

http://www.alquiler-directo.com/boat-hire/nautical-dictiona
ry.php

Naval (UK):

http://www.hazegray.org/faq/slang1.htm
http://www.hazegray.org/faq/slang2.htm

Offshore:

http://www.spe.org/industry/reference/glossary.php
Dress and Appearance

Now you have the masters

attention

•Are you smartly dressed ?

•Do you have the correct P.P.E.
(personal protection equipment)
on for that type of vessel ?
The correct appearance will
install confidence
Accepting a
Contract

Points you should

consider
• Length of contract ?
• Armed or unarmed ?
• Daily rate or salary ?
• Flights and hotels ?
• Insurances in place ?
• Medical inc repatriation and dental ?
Specialist Equipment

• Ballistic helmet ?
• Bino’s ?
• NVG’s ?
• Radios ?
• GPS ?
• Body armour ?
• Satellite phone?
To Summarise

• The Maritime Industry have their own

customs and traditions.
• Your attitude and appearance can install
confidence.
• Make sure you understand the contract
before accepting.
• Make sure you have the correct equipment.
Any Questions