Description
Efficient Deck Hand course – Nautical Knowledge
What you’ll cover during your EDH:
a) Know the meaning of the common nautical terms.
b) The various parts of the ship, for example, decks, compartments, ballast tanks, air pipes, pipeline systems.
c) Knowledge of the correct use of ensigns, courtesy flags and international single letter flags.
d) Report  bearings of  objects or lights in degrees or points on the bow,  using compass cards in 360 degree notation.
e) Understanding helm orders and the ability to communicate with the officer of the watch on matters relevant to watch-keeping duties.
f) Procedures for the relief, maintenance and hand over of a watch and the information needed to maintain a safe watch.
g) Knowledge of the use of lifesaving and fire-fighting appliances as follows;
- Importance of musters and drills and know what action to take on hearing alarm signals;
- General arrangements and dangers of fixed smothering systems;
- Correct operation, precautions and dangers of lifeboat release gear;
- Procedures for boat preparation and launching;
- Precautions to be observed when maintaining lifeboats and davits;
- Fire and watertight doors.
EDH Shipboard Maintenance
What you’ll cover:
a) Practical knowledge of general shipboard maintenance including;
- The use of painting, lubrication and cleaning materials and equipment and understand routine maintenance and repair procedures.
- Surface preparation techniques.
- Manufacturer’s safety guidelines, shipboard instructions, and the requirements safe disposal of waste materials.
- Application, maintenance and use of hand and power tools.
4. Apply precautions and contribute to the prevention of pollution of the marine environment.
a) Basic knowledge of marine environmental issues including;
- Precautions to be taken to prevent pollution of the marine environment.
- Use and operation of anti-pollution equipment.
- Approved methods for disposal of marine pollutants.
PART II – Practical work Testing as far as possible by practical demonstration.
1. Bends and Hitches
a) Common knots bends and hitches including:-
- Reef knot
- Timber hitch
- Cove hitch
- Rolling hitch
- Figure of 8 knot ï‚· Wall and crown knot
- Bowline and bowline on the bight
- Sheet bend and double sheet bend
- Sheepshank
- Fishermen’s bend
- Monkey’s fist
- Round turn and two half hitches
- Marlinspike hitch
Splicing and Whipping
What You’ll Cover:
Common splicing and whipping including;
- Splice in eight stranded plaited rope
- Back and short splice in three-stranded rope
- Eye splice with locking tuck in wire rope.
- Parcel and serve a splice.
- Whip a rope’s end using plain or palm and needle whipping.
- Put a seizing on a rope and wire.
Efficient Deck Hand – Rope Work and Rigging
What You Will Cover:
a) General deck work including;
- Care and storage of fibre and wire ropes, cables and chains, including their construction, use, marking, maintenance and proper stowage.
- Slinging and rigging a stage and bosun’s chair.
- Pilot ladder or hoists, gangway and accommodation ladder.
- Rat guards
- Rigging a derrick or crane.
- Use and selection of stoppers for wires and ropes
- Open and closing hatches and watertight doors including bow, stern and other shell doors.
- General precautions to be taken before and during the operation of a winch whether used for working cargo or warping.
- Securing the deck for heavy weather.
- Rigging a hydrostatic release unit.
- The correct fitting of wire grips (e.g. ‘Bulldog’ grips).
a) General understanding of mooring operations including;
- The functions of mooring and tug lines and how each line functions as part of the overall system.
- Safe handling of moorings with particular reference to synthetic-fibre ropes and self tensioning winches.
- Procedures and order of events for making fast and letting go mooring and tug lines and wires, including towing lines.
- Working knowledge of the procedures and orders of events associated with mooring to a buoy or buoys.
a) General understanding of anchoring operations including;
- The use and operation of a windlass in anchor work such as anchoring, weighing anchor, securing for sea and warping.
- The use of anchors in emergencies.
- The precautions to be taken in the stowage of chain cable and securing the anchors at sea.
- The marking of the anchor cable.
- The procedures and order of events for the use of anchors in various operations.
a) General understanding of cargo operations including;
- The gear used in cargo work and an understanding of its uses.
- General maintenance with particular reference to wires blocks and shackles.
- The capacities, safe working loads, and breaking strengths of mooring and cargo equipment.
- The procedures for safe handling, stowage and securing of cargo and stores, including dangerous, hazardous and harmful substances and liquids.
- The ability to use and understand basic signals for the operation of equipment, including winches, windlasses, cranes, and hoists.
- Basic knowledge of and precautions to observe in connection with particular types of cargo and identification of IMDG labelling.
Contact us
Please contact us if you require any further information about this course or wish to book on behalf of a company:
Telephone: 01454 260130
Email: info@southwestmaritimeacademy.com
Normal office hours are (UK time):
Monday – Friday: 08.30 – 17.00
Please be aware that online bookings for the Efficient Deck hand course will be confirmed with course joining information within one working day of the booking being made. Confirmation of payment will be received by email.
There is a wide range of local accommodation, some of which are within walking distance of the training centre to suit everyone’s budget. For a list of local accommodation please click here.
C.Rigby –
A very well delivered course and a fantastic instructor, very friendly and relaxed teaching style whilst being very professional, thank you!
Angelo. F –
Martyn was extremely knowledgeable on all topics and clearly has practical experience to back up his knowledge. Very good at delivering knowledge to the class and supporting students needed assistance.
S W –
A friendly and experienced lecturer, great facilities delivering many courses.
S Davies –
Martyn is very knowledgeable and easy to learn with
P C –
Really good course and instructor. Teaching was good and at a pace that is easily understood, especially the practical aspect. Martyn is very patient!
I T –
Very good course, well paced. Great mix of theory and practical. Accessible for attendees of all skill levels and the training team will assist on an individual basis which helps with understanding of techniques.
C Taylor –
Friendly staff and a great instructor
B Carter –
Great teacher in a friendly place
J Young –
The course was very educational and Martyn has very detailed knowledge of the subject. Very well run with a good balance between classroom and practical
T Gidts –
Well composed syllabus, a great 4 day course.
F Shamatey –
Instructors are very friendly and very professional, they are the best. South West Maritime Academy is the best Maritime training centre and I will come again, staff are very friendly, my instructor Martyn is the best, see you soon!
A Christensen –
Martyn is professional, has good knowledge and patience.
M Rendall –
Great knowledge and information from Martyn, also very patient and an understanding of how to teach.
E Robinson –
Straight forward, all information needed, taught well and concise, enjoyable environment.
S Edwards –
Really enjoyed this course learning from Martin, great instructor very knowledgeable and easy to learn from.
S Briers –
Instructor was fantastic, friendly and very helpful. It was an excellent course.
C Cutting –
Instructor was really patient and knowledgeable, no pressure was put on anyone at anytime and everyone walked away with loads of great new knowledge.
M O’Brien –
Martyn has super knowledge, he is a great instructor and very patient, professional and friendly.
He was fantastic, really knew his stuff, broke everything down clearly and slowly with a very calm and patient demeanour, top marks, he made the course!
K Davies –
Martyn is a master of knots and rope, he is a man of patience and understanding.
All very professional Academy, would highly recommend.
S Robins –
The instructor was very good and helpful, he was excellent.
I found the EDH course excellent, it will put me in good stead for going on to an AB in the future.
J O’Donnell –
The instructor has great background of knowledge, patience and explained everything, Martyn was outstanding, I will be asking the company to use the academy for all future training.
There was some content on the course that most seafarers would already know prior to attending but despite this, the instructor still found elements I should know, but didn’t!
A very good course. I think all seafarers should complete prior to joining their first vessel.
Joseph Smith –
I found the teaching method very clear, Martyn has extensive experience in this field. Delivered content and answered questions with ease.
Rory Bennett –
Great teacher, very patient and knowledgeable, would recommend school to friends
Steve Hoare –
I though the course was well structured and factual.
Ross H –
It took me a while to understand the correct way to splice, but my instructor broke the lesson down further enabling me to understand it, many thanks.
Steve Spear –
A really enjoyable course. The instructors knowledge was superb and the instruction was excellent. The academy is a brilliant place to attend and you’re really made to feel welcome by all staff. Well done SWMA.
Adrian P –
Thoroughly enjoyable course featuring a good mix of theory and practical skills. All of the staff here are approachable, knowledgeable and clearly keen to help and develop students.
Chris P –
It would be very hard to find a more suited instructor in my opinion, very experienced. Martin is a very approachable, patent and natural teacher.
Very thankful for Martin putting me right when I was getting flustered. It’s not the easiest subject to teach I imagine, but he remained professional and patient with all and throughout 🙂
Jamie B –
Overall excellent teaching from Martin.
Matthew H –
There is nothing Martin doesn’t know. A very calm and measured approach to the entire course, tutor always at hand to help and show correct methods, excellent throughout 🙂
Matthias Kreithner –
The instructor was very experienced and had good knowledge, teaching very good.
Martin is an excellent instructor, he makes the contents very interesting even for more experienced seafarers!
Jie Taylor –
Martin was very patient, knowledgeable and friendly. An extremely useful course that everybody on deck should do.
Justin Ellis –
Instructor had great skills and the explanation on splicing was very helpful, Martin is a great teacher. I was very impressed with the friendliness. Very happy with the instruction on the compass. The course was very well taught and gained a lot of knowledge during the course. I learned a lot about rope work especially and feel like I have gained confidence moving forward in my career. Very happy with the course.
Rachel Wheatley –
Instructor was very helpful really good and informative. Very good course, a lot covered, really enjoyed the course.
Matthew Higgins –
Martin has good knowledge and is easy to talk to. Very good course well taught.
David Brooks –
This course is good!
Gavin J –
Martyn is superb, very helpful and explains everything. The course facilities are superb. I’ve taken courses at various locations over the past 30 years, this is my first time at SWMA and I will definitely be returning for other courses. Would highly recommend SWMA.
William M –
Martyn is a great bloke, very friendly, very good course.
Thomas T –
Martyn is very knowledgeable, great at teaching a really nice bloke. Laid back easy going course, calm friendly environment, would definitely book here again for other courses!
Malcolm Nicholas –
Very informative, Martin is very patient and helpful.
Simon Taylor –
Very good course, enjoyed the week.
Ethan P –
The course delivers on the EDH syllabus in a detailed and well presented manor. I am likely to return for any future courses. Martin is a skilled instructor and delivers the knowledge in the class in a easily digestible way.
Kris Ward –
EDH Course was good! Enjoyed splicing and rope work the most!
Martin was a super patient instructor!
South West Maritime Academy has been great, facilities were great!
A+ would recommend
Andrew Cervero –
Really enjoyed the Efficient Deck Hand course, the instructor was excellent.
I would have liked to spend more time practising splicing & whipping and less time in the classroom but that’s just personal nit picking.
Overall I think it was an excellent course & would highly recommend it to colleagues and other mariners.
Ashley Marshall –
Very knowledgeable instructor, more than happy to help at any time. Made everything clear on things I was unsure about.
Helena Reynolds –
Really enjoyable course, though it might have been of more use to me before I’d taken my Yachtmaster!
Mark Chamberlain –
I thought the lecturer managed the course structure well. All candidates had a lot of experience and that was taken on-board and the course was delivered at their level.
The splicing and rope work was a very valuable refresher.
Adam Davies –
Excellent instructors, very friendly and down to earth.
I found the course easy to follow with good support from the instructors and the facilities very good for training purposes.
Marcin Snios –
I’ve learned a lot from instructor Martin – he knows everything and anything about ropes and rope-work in detail. Very good and transparent with passing information very knowledgeable person. Overall very happy thanks.
Phil Rowlands –
Instructors are really friendly and approachable
Christian Tywunka –
Very knowledgeable with years of experience. Had a good week, very informative.
Peter Wilson –
Extremely helpful, very professional, very educational
Richard Lewis –
Great, Very friendly and welcoming to the course.
Jaime Yeomans –
This course covered everything and taught me some very interesting things. Brilliant instructors overall a very good Academy that I will continue to use in the future.