Offshore Power Skipper

The Offshore Power Skipper Diploma from the International Sailing Schools Association (ISSA) is designed for individuals who wish to handle power-driven boats in more challenging conditions. This certification equips skippers with advanced knowledge and skills required for long-distance voyages and multi-day trips.

The course covers advanced navigation techniques, safety protocols, weather forecasting, and engine management, ensuring that participants are prepared to face the complexities of powerboating. It also includes emergency response procedures, deep-water anchoring, and handling unforeseen situations during extended journeys.

This diploma is ideal for those looking to enhance their powerboating experience, enabling them to confidently manage powerboats over longer distances and in more remote waters.

Course Requirements

Experience required prior training: 28 days at sea as skipper or watch leader in at least 2 voyages, at least in 2 sea areas

Certification required prior training: SRC and First Aid Certificate

Minimum age required: 18 years old

Suggested number of training hours: 40 hours theory / 2 days practical +  2 hours night navigation

Who can run the training: ISSA Instructor

Who can do the examination: ISSA Instructor

Examination: Needs to include navigation at darkness

How to submit the application: To authorized ISSA school only

Scope of required knowledge and skills

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Yacht handling under Power

1. Unberthing/berthing (longside and stern-to)
2. Approaching a mooring buoy
3. Weighing an anchor
4. Recovery of Man Over Board
5. Practical skills

Dead Reckoning Navigation

1. Definition of DR navigation
2. Running of DR and plotting of DR position
3. Practical skills

Fixing lines

1. Sources of fixing lines (leading lights, bearings, depth contour)
2. Error analysis/ accuracy assessment
3. Practical skills

Magnetic compass

1. Consideration of variation. Change of variation in time and place
2. Siting of compass and reasons for deviation (impact of electronic devices)
3. Stationary and handbearing compasses
4. Determination of deviation

Tides

1. Reasons of Tides – Springs and Neaps
2. Tidal Tables
3. Tidal levels and chart datum
4. Time and height of tide in standard ports
5. Secondary ports
6. Anomalies

Tidal currents

1. Tidal current atlases
2. Tidal current diamonds
3. Information about tidal currents in navigation publications
4. Consideration of tidal currents when calculating courses and passage planning
5. Overfalls, tidal races

Buoys and Beacons

1. Navigation signs in IALA A and B
2. Limitation of navigational marks as navigational aid

Lights

1. Characteristics
2. Range – visual and nominal
3. List of lights

Pilotage

1. Harbour specific regulations and signalling systems
2. Planning and strategy to enter/leave a harbour
3. Pracatical skills to make a pilotage

Echo sounders

1. Operation of manual echosounder
2. Types of echosounders
3. Limitations of echosounders
4. Secondary echoes

Satellite systems

Basic knowledge of satellite systems, their abilities and limitations

Logs (measurement of speed and distance)

Different types and operation

Logbook

1. Logbook as an official document
2. Running of a logbook

Meteorology

1. Basic terms, Beaufort’s scale
2. Air masses
3. Types of clouds
4. Characteristics of weather in specific pressure and front systems
5. Sources of weather forecasts
6. Ability to interpret weather forecasts/ charts, weatherfax
7. Day/night breeze
8. Fog
9. Use of barometer

Anchoring

1. Types of anchors and operation
2. Selection of place to anchor

Collision Regulations

Good knowledge of International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

Safety at sea

1. Personal safety, use of lifejackets, harnesses, jackstays
2. Fire prevention and fighting
3. Distress signals
4. Role of coastguard
5. Preparation to heavy weather
6. Liferafts and recovery by helicopter

International Signalling Code

Rules of application

Navigating in restricted visibility

1. Restricted visibility procedures
2. Limitations for safe navigation

Passage planning

1. Preparation of charts and notes to plan a passage
2. Standard actions when navigating in inshore waters
3. Strategy to plan a passage
4. Use of weather information in passage planning
5. Sources of local and national regulations

Environment protection

Responsibility for environment pollution and sea environment protection

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