Fishing Master Course Goals
Provide the master of a fishing vessel under 100 tons gross with the basic skills in the safe operation, loading and navigation of his or her vessel.
Communications
Be able to use:
- International Code of Signals
- Radio Aids to Marine Navigation
- Obtain weather reports
Stability
Have a knowledge of:
- Draft
- Reserve buoyancy
- Freeboard
- Lightship
- Deadweight
- Load displacement
- List
- Heel
- Trim
- Gravity & Centre of Gravity "G"
- Buoyancy & Centre of Buoyancy "B"
- Stable, Unstable and Neutral equilibrium
- Metacentre "M"& Metacentric height
- Righting Lever "GZ"
- Equilibrium
- Stiff & tender vessels with reference to metacentric height
- Knowledge of the effects of adding, moving or removing weights on G, M or B
- Effects of suspended weights on C of G
- Effects of Free Surface on the stability of the vessel
- Effects of carrying weights on deck
- Effects of icing
- Use of fishing vessel stability data book
Navigation Instruments
- Demonstrate knowledge and use of the RADAR
- Principles and limitations of the RADAR
- Identify CPA, TCPA and use of RADAR for plotting targets
Loran C
Echo Sounding Equipment
Meteorology
- Identify principles and use of the aneroid barometer. Recognize barometric tendencies ie. rising, falling, levelling and possible effects on weather conditions.
- Interpret weather warnings and forecasts
- Describe the terms veering, backing, fronts, high pressure and low pressure as related to weather forecasts
- Describe localized conditions which increase the hazard of certain winds in specific directions
- Recognize the following cloud formations:
- cirrus
- cirrocumulus
- cirrostrat
- altocumulus
- altostratus
- nimbostratus
- stratus
- stratocumulus
- cumulus
- cumulonimbus
- Associate cloud formations with weather systems
- Recognize symbols on and interpret a simple weather map
- Determine dew point and humidity by use of the wet and dry bulb thermometer for the purpose of forecasting fog or icing.
Navigation Safety or Rule of the Road
Demonstrate an understanding of the Collision Regulations, both orally and by multiple choice testing:
- knowledge of the steering and sailing rules
- knowledge of lights and shapes
- knowledge of sound signals, both for manoeuvring and in fog
- knowledge of emergency signals and signals for fishing vessels.
Chartwork and Pilotage
The candidate must be able to demonstrate knowledge of the magnetic compass, with particular reference to:
- variation
- deviation
- magnetic course
- compass error
- true course
- compass course
- Use of variation, deviation, and deviations tables to correct compass courses and bearings for compass error.
Chartwork
The successful course candidate must be able to:
- recognise the chart title
- recognise the chart number
- know where to find the date of the latest chart correction.
- use CHS chart 1.
- interpret symbols indicating navaids, water depths, dangers and traffic systems.
Select charts to use:
- largest scale chart for greater detail
- use compass rose for variation
- check sounding, ie. Fathoms, metres or feet.
- ensure corrected to date
Know the Canadian buoyage system
Measure distance on chart
Correct course to allow for wind and current.
Pilotage
The candidate must be able to demonstrate ability to:
- determine latitude and longitude of a given position
- plot a given position on a chart
- lay off a course between two given positions and determine the true course, compass course and distance
- plot distances and bearings
- fix position of the vessel as follows:
- two or more bearings
- two or more ranges
- range and bearing of the same object
- range of one object and bearing of a second
- bearing and sounding.
- lay off and measure the true course from a given position to pass a given distance of a charted feature.
- determine the true course made good between two observed positions
- keep a constant record of the vessel's progress using the chart and log book.
- determine the speed of the vessel between two observed positions.
Attendance
Learners completing a required pre course reading assignment and attending a minimum of 80 hours will be awarded a Transport Canada EXN 24 Training Certificate. Maritime Education Associates Fishing Master courses will have a maximum of 16 persons in all practical components of the course.