After three months of intensive training Broads Tours trainee skippers Oliver, Richard and Phil had something to celebrate last Tuesday having all passed their MCA Boatmaster licence.
The qualification means that they can now take command of Broads Tours double decker trip boats unaccompanied and is the culmination of hours of practical and theory training, as well as individual courses in Personal Survival, Fire Fighting, and First Aid.
Discussing the achievement Oliver, who wasted no time by running a boat trip less than an hour after passing his test, said: |”After getting nearly 90 hours of lessons and accompanied driving experience in my log book it’s fantastic to finally have the Boatmaster licence under my belt and take customers out on the water under my own steam.”
“The exam, conducted by the Maritime and Coastguard Association, was pretty tough and nerve wracking as it took 4.5 hours for us all to be assessed in an oral and practical exam. I’m delighted that all three of us trainee skippers passed together though.”
“On behalf of my fellow trainee skippers, Richard, Phil and myself, I would like to thank our excellent instructor Patrick for all his hard work as well as the other qualified skippers who have given us extra practise and advice. There has been a real team effort from everyone at Broads Tours.”
Barbara Greasley, director of Broads Tours, said: “I am really pleased to have a new crop of three bright new skippers at Broads Tours. The average age of our skippers is very young – around 30 – which goes to show that there is a promising future in Broads boating and people wanting to work in this industry.”
“We are also attracting a very high standard of candidate to be skippers. Richard has a masters degree in Criminology, Oliver has a degree in Environmental Science and Phil is a commercial airline pilot!”