Fast-track program to become a boatman

Boatman training: practical program with recognized exam

Would you like to work as a boatman in commercial inland shipping? Then you will follow a recognized 9-month training program, including at least 90 days navigation time on board an inland vessel, an approved practical portfolio, and a successfully completed practical boatman exam.

After completing these components, you can apply for the position of boatman in your service record book at the Foundation for Waste and Inland Waterway Documents (SAB www.sabni.nl ) in Rotterdam. During the program, you can already register for the position of apprentice boatman, starting from the start date stated in your apprenticeship agreement.

The practical boatman exam at STC Next fully complies with the requirements of the competent exam authority (CBR/CCV) and is recognized within the inland shipping sector.

You will be given portfolio assignments to complete on board. This portfolio is tailored to the requirements set by the CCV/CBR. Topics covered during the portfolio assignments:

• Navigation
• Operating of craft
• Cargo handling, stowage, and passenger transport
• Marine engineering and electrical, electronic and control engineering
• Maintenance and repair
• Communication
• Health and safety and environmental protection

Each assignment is assessed by your employer’s skipper/instructor and, if the result is satisfactory, signed off once all assignments have been completed. You can then take the final practical exam. The practical exam for boatman takes place on board a STC Next training ship and takes half a day. During this exam, you will be assessed on the required knowledge and skills as specified in the exam regulations.

At the end of this program:

• lasting at least 9 months, including 90 days of navigation time
• upon successful completion, you will automatically receive the CCV/CBR practical exam certificate for boatman. With this certificate, you can register as a boatman at SAB

Anyone who wants to work as a boatman and meets the admission requirements can take the practical boatman exam.

If you are still of school age, you can participate in this program if you:

• have a minimum of 5 years of work experience or
• can demonstrate at least 500 days work experience at sea going ship as a member of the deck crew or
• have completed a vocational training program of at least 3-years

Admission requirements:

• At the start of the Practical Exam for the boatman program, you must complete the Basic Safety Training course for Deckhands inland.
• You can register for this course via Basic Safety Training for Deckhands inland (English) – STC NEXT https://www.stc-knrm.nl/en/courses/basic-safety-training-for-deckhands/

Special details

• The entire process takes at least 9 months with a minimum of 90 days navigation time, the actual practical exam can be taken 6 months after the start date.
• The practical boatman exam takes half a day.
• After registration, you will receive:

– information about the program;

– the ‘apprentice boatman training agreement’ with your starting date (your sailing days will start counting from this moment) in the form of a sticker to be placed in your service record book.

• Once the portfolio has been successfully completed and signed by your boatmaster/instructor, we can schedule you for the exam.
• The resit exam costs €537.50 excluding VAT.