Making the ocean safer: West Nautical's Superyacht Captain's Command and Control Course
by West Nautical 29 Oct 06:54 NZDT
An annual event in West Nautical's busy calendar, every October superyacht captains from all over the world fly to Newcastle upon Tyne to attend the company's world-renowned Captain's Command and Control Course.
While the luxurious world of yachting is more typically associated with the South of France or Bahamas, the course has put Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields Marine School firmly on the map when it comes to the highest standard of training available to yacht captains and crew.
The feedback for the course is always overwhelmingly positive, and 2024's was no different, welcoming crew members from some of yachting's best-known superyachts, including 97m Faith, 44m sailing yacht SYL, 83m motor yacht Savannah, 95m motor yacht Bliss and more.
What is the Course?
Designed specifically for those who possess a STCW Reg A-II/2 Master (Yacht) 3000GT or above (the highest levels of qualifications captains can achieve meaning they can drive a boat of 3000 gross tonnes or higher), the training programme is ran in association with South Shields Marine School, utilising their state-of-the-art bridge simulator.
The course delegates undergo a series of emergency scenarios varying in seriousness, but all designed to test their communication and decision-making skills under pressure. Alongside improving communication skills, the course also aims to instil confidence in the participants, preparing them for the high-pressure situations that can occur within their jobs.
"The mental health of crew within the superyacht industry will always be a priority, particularly for those in senior bridge positions. A lot of responsibility rests on the shoulders of these individuals regarding the more vital and decisive decisions that would need to be made very quickly in the event of an emergency.
It is our goal therefore that participants leave the course having benefited from honest and open communication, learning from each other, resulting in positive changes for each individual and additionally career progression." - Geoff Moore, Managing Director of West Nautical
Mitigating risk in the superyacht industry
While exceptionally rare, the superyacht industry is no stranger to accidents and emergencies. As huge feats of engineering worth millions of pounds floating at the mercy of the ocean, they come with risks, and 2024 has seen the industry plunged into the spotlight amidst a range of incidents.
This year has seen fires, collisions and of course sadly sinkings, with the tragic Bayesian case bringing yachting to the attention of the world and wider media.
While such incidents have always posed potential threat, there is nothing to fully prepare a yacht captain for the true liabilities and quick thinking required in these situations - that was until West Nautical created the Captain's Command and Control Course back in 2015.
West Nautical have developed the course's simulated scenarios to be superyacht-specific and crew-focused to ensure that delegates gain valuable experience in a realistic environment.
Previous Command and Control Course attendees have dealt with situations that have included crew altercations, fires, collisions, distress situations and the rescuing of persons from the water, all while dealing with the demands of guests and crew.
Newcastle & South Shields Marine School
The city of Newcastle upon Tyne was once a booming hub of shipbuilding, but activity had all but ceased in the 80s, with one final ship built at Swan Hunter in 2006.
With the end of shipbuilding in the region, it is often forgotten that some of the maritime industry's finest crew, engineers, navigators and lawyers, are still graduating locally, thanks to the training available at South Shields Marine School.
Several members of West Nautical's team started their early careers in South Shields, including Managing Director Geoff Moore:
"Having started my nautical career in South Shields, I have always been aware of the level and quality of the training on offer at the marine school. After a varied career at sea, it has been a pleasure to return to South Shields annually for the Captain's Command and Control Course, created by myself and the West Nautical team alongside KG Maritime, after noticing a lack of training at this level specifically for captains.
An emergency at sea is every captain and crew member's worse nightmare, therefore, if we can test superyacht captains in simulator scenarios and make them aware of the legalities that would ensue following such an event, we can hopefully help them prepare to make the best decisions, should they be faced with a similar situation at sea.
Using clear and concise communication in the midst of an emergency is vital, and the course allows them to practise this in a safe, but realistic, learning environment amongst fellow esteemed captains and crew."
The course also allows the delegates to interact with West Nautical's yacht management team from their sister company, Nautical Management Services (NMS), as well as a professional maritime lawyer, Iain Butterworth of Butterworth Marine, to give them a full understanding of all the different legal parties that would be involved in the event of an emergency.
Work hard play hard
While the course is known for being intense, it is also renowned for giving international captains a taste of the Geordie hospitality the region is famous for, with meals and entertainment at a host of local eateries in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne throughout the week.
The course is going from strength to strength annually, putting Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields Marine School well and truly on the map within the illustrious superyacht industry.
Bespoke training courses are also available throughout the year upon request for entire yacht bridge teams, subject to availability. It is often the case that once a captain or chief officer takes the course, that they then return with their entire bridge and engineering teams with an understanding of how it can benefit the yacht's operations as a whole.
Feedback from this year's delegates
"There's definitely no captain or officer out there better than this course. It's an intense two days, but the amount we've learnt is phenomenal." - Ross Green, of motor yacht Savannah, 83m Feadship.
"Personally, I think it should be compulsory. I have not learnt more than on this course. The challenges take you out of your comfort zone, that's for sure - it's very realistic training." - Daniel Ducrot of motor yacht Lunasea, 73m Feadship.
"Great course...I've wanted to do this for a while. It has been an intense couple of days, but it has been incredibly rewarding. There's a lot to take away from this, and I'm very glad to have been part of it. - Tom Alderman, Relief Captain.
For more information, or to register your interest for next year's course or bespoke courses, get in touch via email at .