Local charter companies upgrade crew with STCW'95
Crew from the St.Maarten charter companies Eagle Tours, operators of the sailing Catamarans Golden Eagle, Rafting tours, Explorer and other boats, Aquamania who exploits the Edge Ferries, the catamarans Lambada and Tango and several other vessels, as well as Captain Morgan charters, have just completed the STCW'95 course at the Maritime School of the West Indies.
In addition to them, several other crew from the Island and abroad followed this September course.
The school had offered a special "off season" course to enable charter crew to attend in time so that they are fully prepared for the upcoming tourist high season.
The STCW'95 is a five day MCA recognized and by law requested basic safety course that anyone working on boats with paying passengers need to follow so that they can present the certificate to coastguard and harbor authorities upon inspection.
During the high season, most of the course attendees are people that want to become crew on board mega and super yachts while local crew tries to go to the school before tourists flock to the Island and their charter boats are busy.
The STCW'95 course consists of several modules; First Aid, Social Responsibility, Personal Safety and Survival Techniques ( life raft handling etc. ) and Fire Fighting.
The Maritime School of the West Indies offers also other courses like a Personal Watercraft course ( for wave runners, jet ski's etc. ), a small powerboat and RIB course, VHF radio, Mega Yacht Crew course, Bareboat captain, Master 200 Ton captain's licenses and many more.
The school is affiliated with the organization "International Yacht Training" and most of the courses are MCA recognized and World Wide approved.
In addition to marine related courses, the Maritime School teaches also the Emergency Responder course from the NIBHV ( Nederlands Instituut voor Bedrijfshulpverlening ) for businesses, hotels etc. and will this upcoming season organize several special "clinics" with guest speakers and specialist instructors.
Sessions about the use of composite materials, marine paintings, rigging, electronics and other specific yachting related issues are already in the planning.
The Maritime School will, as in previous years and in cooperation with the Caribbean Sail Training Association, again offer the opportunity to Caribbean youth to sail on board several Tall Ships to Caribbean and European destinations as trainees starting in December and further throughout next year.
A "Maritime Experience Day" for all school students in their final year class will be organized on board the Dutch sail training ship " Eendracht" during the vessel's visits to St.Maarten-St.Martin this winter.
More information and course dates are available in the web site: www.MaritimeSchool.net or can be received by e-mail:
info@MaritimeSchool.net or by phone at +599 5231209 or +590590510495
Picture for free download: Head Instructor Marco London with graduates of the STCW'95 course
Maritime Services and Training s.a.r.l.
Marina Royale 19/20
Marigot 97150 St.Martin
Antilles Francaises