Nautical Licence Course

Nautical Licence Requirements

• Nautical Licence required for operation of engines over 30Hp and navigation within Maltese Territorial waters (up to 12Nm)
• The licence cannot be used for commercial activity or international voyages
• Additional RYA certificates are required for international voyages and commercial activity

Course Information

• Certificate of Attendance will be issued after completing the course
• Application for the licence can be made after the course
• Exam is held at Transport Malta Offices, Lija, on a one-to-one basis
• The exam lasts up to 20 minutes, and the licence is sent by post within 3 weeks

Terminology

• Nautical Mile: 1NM = 1.1508 Land Mile, based on the circumference of the earth
• Knot: 1 nautical Mile per hour
• Fairway: section of a marine waterway designed for safe navigation
• Navigation Lights: lights shown by a vessel at night when underway
• Masthead light: light shown at night when a vessel is making way with its engine
• Anchor Light: singular all-round light shown at night when a vessel is at anchor
• Working lights: combination of all-round lights shown by commercial vessels engaged in specific tasks

Local Regulations

• Speed limits: 3 knots in approaches to fairways, 10 knots within 300m of a sandy beach, and 5 knots within certain harbours
• Swimmer Zones: marked areas where craft may not anchor or enter
• Anchoring restrictions: some areas are marked on charts and signs on shore, and some areas have Launching Lanes

IRPCS (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea)

• Keep a proper lookout by sight and sound
• Proceed at a safe speed and adjust according to conditions
• Be aware of blind spots caused by sails, spray hoods, etc.
• All vessels have a duty to avoid collision
• Assess the risk of collision early and don't leave avoiding action too late
• Beware of faster vessels overtaking

Narrow Channels

• A Narrow Channel is one where certain vessels can only maneuver within a fairway
• Common sense dictates that if you can travel outside the fairway, it is safer and will not cause concern to other users
• Cross the narrow channel at right angles and keep clear of large vessels

Lights

• Masthead light: 225°, white, and shown on the starboard side
• Port light: 112.5°, red, and shown on the port side
• Stern light: 135°, white, and shown on the stern
• Working lights: combination of all-round lights shown by commercial vessels engaged in specific tasks

Collision Regulations

• A power-driven vessel must give way to a vessel under sail
• The stand-on vessel should hold its course and speed while continuing to monitor the action of the give-way vessel
• In restricted visibility, every vessel becomes a give-way vessel
• Proceed at slow speed and use all available means of lookout
• If the give-way vessel does not stand off, the stand-on vessel is obliged to avoid a collision at all times

Overtaking Vessels

• An overtaking vessel is one that falls into the overtaking arc (135° - Stern Light Sector)
• The overtaking vessel may overtake to port or starboard and must keep clear and not impede the vessel they are overtaking
• The vessel being overtaken must maintain its course and speed

Two Sail Vessels

• When sailing vessels meet, the way they turn is governed by whether they are the stand-on or give-way vessels
• This is determined by which tack they are on (starboard or port)
• When on the same tack, the yacht closest to the wind is called the windward yacht and must keep clear
• When on opposing tacks, the vessel on the port tack must give way

Navigation Lights

• Sailing vessels under sail: masthead light, stern light, and port/starboard lights
• Sailing vessels under power: motoring cone, stern light, and port/starboard lights
• Power-driven vessels: bow light, stern light, and port/starboard lights
• Vessels at anchor: 1 all-round white light (up to 50m) or 2 all-round white lights (over 50m)### Sound Signals
• Manoeuvring signals:
  • Three short blasts: operating engines astern
  • Five short blasts: unclear intentions
  • One short blast: turning to starboard
  • Two short blasts: turning to port
• Fog signals:
  • Power-driven vessels: one long blast every 2 minutes
  • Sailing vessels, RAM, underwater works, CBD, NUC, towing, fishing: one long blast + two short blasts every 2 minutes

Buoys

• Lateral marks:
  • Port lateral mark: cylindrical top mark, all red, flashes red
  • Starboard lateral mark: conical top mark, all green, flashes green
• Cardinal marks:
  • Indicate direction of danger
  • Black and yellow in colour
  • Flashing white light, with number of flashes corresponding to clock face direction
  • North cardinal mark: black on top, yellow at the bottom, two black triangles pointing upwards
  • South cardinal mark: yellow on top, black below, two triangles pointing downwards
  • East cardinal mark: black-yellow-black, two triangles facing away from each other
  • West cardinal mark: yellow-black-yellow, two triangles with points touching
• Isolated danger mark:
  • Black and red horizontal stripes
  • Two black spheres on top
  • Flashing white light in pairs
  • Indicates isolated hazard, avoid the area directly surrounding the mark
• Fairway buoy / safe water mark:
  • Red and white vertical stripes
  • Red sphere on top
  • Flashing white light (isophase or Morse A)
  • Indicates start of buoyed channel or pilot station, be aware of larger vessels entering the channel
• Special mark:
  • Yellow in colour
  • Yellow St. Andrew's Cross on top
  • Flashing yellow light, any rhythm
  • Used for various purposes, observe and look out for objects of interest

Buoy Locations

• Cardinal marks:
  • North: Għallis Rocks, Ġnejna Bay - Outer, etc.
  • South: Delimara Point, Ħaġra - Off Il-Ponta L-Kbira, etc.
  • East: Il-Merkanti – Ruined beacon, Bengħajsa Point – 1Nm SE, etc.
  • West: Marsaxlokk Bay, Comino (1), Comino (2), etc.
• Special marks:
  • Mellieħa Bay – Inner, Birżebbuġa Bay, etc.
• Fairway buoys:
  • Grand Harbour – 1Nm NE of entrance, etc.
• Lateral marks:
  • Grand Harbour - Main Channel, Kalkara - Main Channel, etc.

VHF

• General information:
  • Very High Frequency (156MHz – 174MHz)
  • Waterproof, easy to use, clear display, menu driven
• Important channels:
  • CH 16: Distress and calling channel (voice)
  • CH 70: Digital selective calling channel – distress button
  • CH 12: Valletta Harbour VTS - Commercial
  • CH 14: Marsaxlokk VTS - Commercial
  • CH 69: Malta Small Ships VTS - Pleasure
  • CH 13: Marinas around Malta & Gozo
• Routine call:
  • Use channel 16, then switch to channel 72
  • Example: Moonbeam and June making a routine call
• Digital distress call:
  • Send distress alert with MMSI, location, time, and nature of distress
  • Automatically selects channel 70
• Call types:
  • Distress alert: digital (CH 70) or voice (CH 16)
  • Urgency: PanPan (CH 16)
  • Safety: Securite (CH 16/72)

Mayday and PanPan Calls

• Mayday call:
  • Used in cases of grave and imminent danger
  • Example: Fire on board, Man Overboard, severe bleeding
• PanPan call:
  • Used in cases of urgency which do not justify immediate attention
  • Example: Engine failure, medical assistance, minor medical situations
• Mayday vs PanPan:
  • Mayday: grave and imminent danger, immediate attention required
  • PanPan: urgency, but not life-threatening, attention required but not immediate

Safety Equipment

• Importance of safety equipment:
  • Know how to use before needed
  • In date, regularly maintained, accessible, and kept in a useful place
  • Keep a maintenance log

Flares

• General information:
  • Used in cases of grave and imminent danger
  • Part of safety equipment, brief all crew on location and use
  • Keep in waterproof container, out of the damp and sunlight
  • Regularly check expiry date (approx. 4 years)
• Orange smoke flare:
  • Used by day, indicates wind direction to helicopter
  • Throw in water downwind, not effective in strong winds or at night
• Red hand held flare:
  • Highly visible by night, burn time of 1 minute
  • Use gloves and protective goggles, fire downwind
• Parachute rocket:
  • Use if help is not nearby, climbs up to 300m, visible range of 25Nm
  • Exercise caution, point rocket end away, prepare for recoil

Lifejackets

• General information:

  • Provide minimum 150N (15KG) buoyancy
  • Designed to turn wearer face up in water
  • Suitable for swimmers and non-swimmers, recommended for offshore trips

• Types of lifejackets:

  • Foam lifejackets
  • Inflatable lifejackets (automatic or manual)

• Lifejacket characteristics:

  • Brightly coloured
  • Retroreflective tape
  • Whistle
  • Light
  • Chest strap and crotch strap
  • Manual inflation toggle (inflatable lifejackets)

• Lifejacket donning:

  • Wear as outermost layer
  • Ensure correct fitting, with straps tightened
  • Check lifejacket before donning (and after use)

• Maintenance and checks:

  • Regularly check and maintain lifejacket
  • Ensure correct storage and handling### Builder's Name Plate and CE Certification

• Ocean CE Certification: covers boats designed for extended voyages with winds over Beaufort Force 8 (over 40 knots) and significant wave heights above 13 feet.

• Offshore CE Certification: covers boats operating offshore with winds up to 40 knots and significant seas up to 13 feet.

• Inshore CE Certification: covers boats operating in coastal waters and large bays and lakes with winds up to Force 6 (up to 27 knots) and significant seas up to 7 feet high.

• Inland CE Certification: covers boats in small lakes and rivers with winds up to Force 4 and significant wave heights up to 18 inches.

Fire Control

• Five types of fire extinguishers: cannister, bucket, fire blanket, dry powder, and CO2.
• To extinguish a fire, one element of the fire triangle must be eliminated: heat, oxygen, or fuel.
• Fire extinguishers must be serviced annually.
• Dry powder extinguishers are most versatile and can be used on electrical fires.
• CO2 extinguishers are effective on engine fires in enclosed spaces and electrical fires.
• AFFF extinguishers are effective on flammable liquids.
• Fire blankets are effective on smothering pan fires and galley fires.

Fire Safety Precautions

• When refueling, prepare fire extinguishers, shut off engines, start blowers and extractors, and check for fuel fumes.
• Ensure all hatches, portholes, and doors are closed during refueling.
• Avoid overfilling fuel tanks to prevent spillage.
• Rule of thirds: 1/3 for destination, 1/3 for return, and 1/3 for reserve.

Life Rafts

• Life rafts are a last resort and should only be used when the boat is sinking or on fire.
• Life rafts come in canisters and valises.
• Canisters are designed for outdoor use and are waterproof.
• Valises are kept in lockers and should not be stowed with gear on top.
• Tie the life raft to the boat using a round turn and two half hitches.
• Launch the life raft on the downwind side to prevent the boat from being blown away.

Grab Bags

• Grab bags are waterproof containers containing emergency essentials.
• Items to include in a grab bag: flares, portable VHF, EPIRB/PLB, signaling mirror, flashlight, basic first aid kit, anti-seasickness tablets, and water and food rations.

Helicopter Rescue

• The helicopter crew will make contact and give a brief of their intentions.
• Follow the crew's instructions for course and speed.
• Allow the crew member's winch line to earth in the water to release static.
• The winchman will land on the deck and assess the situation.
• The winchman will take control of the boat and use a weighted line to control the ascent.

Man Overboard

• Shout "Man Overboard" to warn everyone.
• Nominate a crew member to point at the person.
• Throw man overboard equipment.
• Make a Mayday call if necessary.
• Press the MOB button on GPS and the distress alert button on VHF.

Kill Cords

• Kill cords must be worn by helmsmen of small, open power craft.
• The kill cord should be worn around the leg.
• If the helmsman falls overboard or falls away from the helm, the kill cord pin is pulled away from the console, killing the engine.

Boat Controls

• Before starting, check that the boat is not in gear, the propeller is clear, and the engine is in neutral.
• Start the engine while in neutral.
• Check the cooling water and use the gear lever interlock correctly.
• Always allow a pause between forward and astern.
• Use a solid push to put the craft into gear without dragging the gears.
• Check that the steering operates smoothly.

Knots

• Clove Hitch: good for tying fenders and light loads for short periods.
• Round Turn and Two Half Hitches: excellent for holding heavy loads for extended periods.
• Sheet Bend: good for joining two lines together, especially of different diameters.
• Bowline: good for mooring lines and can take a great load.
• Reef Knot: good for tying two lines of similar diameter together.

International Code of Signals

• A: I have a diver down. Keep well clear and at slow speeds.
• B: I am taking in, discharging, or carrying dangerous goods.
• C: Affirmative.
• D: Keep clear of me, I am maneuvering with difficulty.
• E: I am altering my course to starboard.
• F: I am disabled, I am not making way through the water.
• G: I require a pilot.
• H: I have a pilot on board.
• I: I am altering my course to port.
• J: I am on fire and have dangerous cargo on board.
• K: I wish to communicate with you.
• L: The ship is under quarantine.
• M: My vessel is stopped and making no way through the water.
• N: Negative.
• O: Man Overboard.

Anchoring

• There are various types of anchors for small boats.
• Anchors work by having a horizontal pull.
• Rope/chain acts as a shock absorber, adds weight, and reduces chafe.
• Amount of scope (chain and rope) required is different for rope and chain vs. all chain.

Weather Sources

• Check the weather for the duration of the trip before departure.
• Use reliable, local weather sources, apps, VHF, and Navtex.
• Familiarize yourself with the Beaufort scale.

Before You Leave

• Check the weather for the duration of the trip.
• Check Notice to Mariners for notices relevant to the journey.
• Inform someone of the passage, its route, and estimated timings.
• Check instruments and engine.
• Ensure enough fuel (1/3 to go, 1/3 to return, and 1/3 spare).
• Check clothing and supplies for the duration of the trip and spare.

Types of Craft

• Inboard engine with shaft drive: engine is within the hull, drives a gearbox and shaft, and has a simple system that is reliable and low maintenance.
• Outdrive or Stern drive: engine is within the hull, drives an outdrive on the back of the hull, and has a system that is more complex and requires more maintenance.
• Outboard: whole engine and drive train are carried on the stern of the boat, and is a self-contained unit that pivots and tilts.
• Jet Drive: very powerful pump that sucks water from under the boat and pushes it out of the nozzle, providing maneuvering and reverse.

Engine Care

• Check water, oil, and belts regularly.
• Check bilges and batteries, and keep on top of replacements.
• Check lines, including water lines and filters, and electrics.

Hull Types

• Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RIB): Vee hull with inflatable tubes for buoyancy and stability, and is a good rescue boat and popular as a family and fishing boat.
• Sport Boat: good all-round family craft in flat to slight seas, and has a planing hull that can be shallow or deep vee.
• Displacement Hull: classic fishing hull, and more rounded (duck shape).