The Merchant Shipping (Inland Waterway and Limited Coastal Operations) (Boatmasters’ Qualifications and Hours of Work) Regulations 2006

Evidence of attainment of appropriate standard of competence

7.  Each candidate must keep a written record (a “Task Record Book”) of the necessary practical skills he has mastered and the knowledge and experience he has gained which are relevant to the class of certificate he wishes to apply for.

8.  A candidate’s standard of competence must be assessed by a person who is—

(a) appointed for that purpose by the Secretary of State, or

(b) appointed by a person approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of appointing examiners.

9.  An application for an assessment of competence or part of an assessment—

(a) must be in such form and contain, or be accompanied by, such particulars and documents as the Secretary of State may specify, and

(b) must be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

10.  A candidate attending for the part of the assessment described in paragraph 11(2)(b) must produce his Task Record Book to the examiner.

11.—(1) Except where paragraph 12 applies, the assessment must consist of—

(a) (where necessary) a practical test of seamanship and vessel handling skill in a variety of circumstances chosen by the examiner and conducted on board a vessel of a kind reasonably representative of the class of vessel the command of which the certificate would authorise in waters appropriate to that class of certificate; and

(b) an oral test of the candidate’s knowledge underpinning his practical skills.

(2) Subject to paragraphs 12 and 13, the assessment may, at the examiner’s discretion include—

(a) a written examination to test part or all of the candidate’s knowledge underpinning his practical skills, and

(b) questions about the entries in the Task Record Book.

(3) Different parts of the assessment may, if the examiner agrees, take place on different occasions.

12.  This paragraph applies where the candidate holds a Tier 1 boatmaster’s licence with both cargo and towing and pushing endorsements.

13.  Where paragraph 12 applies—

(a) the examiner must assess the candidate’s knowledge of the subject matter of those items in the syllabus for a Group A or Group B certificate marked (a) and (b) under the heading “Navigation” and (b) under the heading “Vessel construction and stability”;

(b) the examiner may assume (unless he has reason to believe otherwise) that the candidate possesses the remaining practical skills and underpinning knowledge required by the holder of a certificate of the group for which he has applied;

(c) the examiner may conduct—

(i) a test mentioned in paragraph 11(1), or

(ii) the test mentioned in paragraph 11(2)(b),

if, and only if, he reasonably believes it to be necessary.

14.  The examiner must as soon as practicable submit a report of his assessment to the Secretary of State and if he is satisfied that the candidate possesses the necessary competencies the Secretary of State must issue the appropriate boatmaster’s certificate to the candidate.