Efficient Deck Hand (EDH)

The Efficient Deck Hand (EDH) is a great course to take to fine tune your skills as a qualified deck hand. It must also be completed as part of the MCA Officer of the Watch (OOW) CoC certification.

The course covers basic seamanship, marlinespike, use of lifting equipment, discusses rigging of stages and bosuns’ chairs, basic painting and maintenance routines, steering and duties of the lookout and the responsibilities of crew members under the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen.

Please note that as of 1 January 2017 an MCA Approved Efficient Deck Hand (EDH) certificate must have been issued at least 18 months prior to the issue of your Officer of the Watch (Yachts less than 3000gt) Certificate of Competency.

Pre-requisite experience:

Hold one of the following certificates:

Yacht rating with at least 6 months service and a steering certificate or Navigation Watch Rating certificate;

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal CoC OR an IYT Master of Yachts Coastal Mate less than 200Gt CoC and shorebased course;

Fishing Class 2 CoC or the Seafish 5 day watchkeeping course for under 16.5m fishing certificates;

BML Tier 1 level 2 certificates; Or

Tug rating with at least 6 months sea time (which may be in categorised water) and a steering certificate or a NWR certificate.

Note: before an EDH certificate can be issued a minimum of 6 month sea service in vessels of more than 15m is required.

Course Length:

5 days

Training towards:

Serving as a Deck hand or Able Seafarer
MCA Officer of the Watch (OOW) CoC

Examination and assessment:

There is an oral and practical examination at the end of the course.

Prerequisites

BST

18 years of age

Yachtmaster or equivalent - if unsure see Lisa or Ann