Back by Popular Demand … Maritime Basic Safety Training Course Prepares Participants for Entry-level Jobs
Article by: Melinda Eddleman
After initiating the new Maritime Program this summer, Del Mar College’s (DMC) Workforce Programs and Corporate Services Division will offer their popular five-day Maritime Basic Safety Training course twice this fall. Both offerings are in October with the one-week course starting Oct. 21 and Oct. 28.
Additionally and by request from students who took the safety course this summer, Corporate Services has added a two-day eight-hour course, Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties. The course is offered twice and scheduled Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 23-24, and Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 29-30, with class held 4 to 8 p.m.
The Coastal Bend’s maritime industry is growing, and the demand for entry-level employees among different maritime companies is trying to keep pace. The division trained two cohorts, or 22 individuals overall, over the summer after developing the safety course. We felt adding the second course covering security duties was good timing this fall, especially after receiving requests from our summer students.
Both courses are U.S. Coast Guard approved, and the Maritime Basic Safety Training course is required for all mariners. The deadline to register for the two fall courses is Wednesday, Oct. 16, for the first week and Oct. 23 for the second for each set of courses. Cost is $1,200 for the five-day Maritime Basic Safety Training course and $250 for the Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties. Limited scholarship opportunities are available. Veterans may qualify for the cost to be covered under the Hazelwood Act, but the G.I. Bill does not apply.
Questions or ready to register? Contact Stineman at 361-698-2181 or jstineman@delmar.edu.
Individuals can also visit the Corporate Services “Career and Industry Training” web page for details at: www.delmar.edu/continuing-education/career.html
The Maritime Basic Safety Training course is comprised of four disciplines, and students must demonstrate proficiency in each, including:
• Basic Fire Fighting (16 hours): students will gain the knowledge and skills to correctly handle a shipboard fire, take appropriate measures for the safety of ship personnel and use fire appliances correctly. Due to risks associated with fire, students may have mustaches but must be clean-shaven on the rest of the face.
• Personal Survival Techniques (12 hours): swimming is required for this class with trainees learning how to respond to emergency situations, take measures appropriate for their own survival and of others and use survival equipment correctly.
• Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (4 hours): due to the vastly different environment on a ship as compared to ashore, this course prepares new mariners for a life at sea.
• First Aid /CPR (8 hours): students will learn the principles and techniques of safety and basic first aid, automatic external defibrillator (AED) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) according to the accepted standards of the American Red Cross. A certificate from the American Red Cross will be awarded upon completion.
Participants will receive a certificate of completion for each class successfully completed during the five days but not a Coast Guard license. However, individuals who successfully complete the course will be able to apply for a Merchant Mariner’s Credential, which is the first step to obtaining a license.
The Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties course covers many requirements and regulations concerning security measures onboard a vessel. Participants must attend both days of the course. Those who complete this course will be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge to carry out the duties assigned under the Vessel Security Plan. Among several issues covered, the course includes:
• current security threats and patterns,
• recognition and detection of weapons,• dangerous substances and devices,
• techniques used to circumvent security measures,
• crowd management, and
• emergency procedures.
DMC Workforce Programs and Corporate Services, in conjunction with San Jacinto College’s Maritime Technology and Training Center and the Southeast Maritime and Transportation Center, currently is working to establish a full training program that addresses multiple skills levels that local maritime employers seek.
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.