Professional Development Courses 

Continuous Professional Development is about you, and your commitment to constant improvement, It encourages looking forward and identifying opportunities to learn something new, refresh your knowledge and skills, or simply keep up to date with the latest developments.

CPD is relevant from the moment your career begins, whether you're just starting out in the profession or if you have been working in industry for many years. At the YDSA we have identified a number of areas of training for new technologies, skills required to meet sector changes and opportunities to practise in new areas.

Repeated Shock & Whole Body Vibration 

The immediate and long term effects of vessel impact and vibration on people need to be understood by all, but particularly for CA Surveyors where the responsibilities of ensuring passenger safety have been highlighted following a number of recent incidents to passengers.

Next Gen Marine bring together the latest industry best practice and knowledge for all sectors operating planning craft. This course will help CA surveyors understand the risks of vibration and shock with regard to seating and positioning on high speed commercial craft and the responsibilities they have as surveyors to ensure the risks are as low as reasonable practicable.

The YDSA have worked with Next Gen Marine to bring a special price to YDSA surveyors who want to learn more.

Please complete the expression of interest form for prices and dates.

Safety Management Systems for Surveyors

With the changes to Workboat Code 3 and proposed changes to the new Sport and Pleasure code there will be a need for all CA surveyors to be able to assess commercial vessel operators Safety Management Systems to the new code requirements, and whilst there is a 3 year transition from the date of implementation in Dec 2023 the YDSA have worked with Marine Comply to provide specific SMS Audit training for CA surveyors, covering:

• SMS objectives
• SMS Sections
• Responsibilities - Company, DP, Master
• Non Conformities/MNC’s and OB’s
• External Audit (within the scope of CA requirement TBD by MCA)
• SMS Review

this course last for 2 days and will be carried out online. 

Please complete the expression of interest form for prices and dates.

Risk Assessments for the Marine Industry

As with the changes to the codes for Safety Management Systems there will be a new focus on CA surveyors to be able to analyse operators Risk Assessments as part of their coding examination. In order to help CA surveyors will this new responsibility the YDSA has partnered with Marine Comply to bring a Risk Assessment training course to its members and operators. this will be delivered by a half day online course covering:

• Health and safety Law
• Merchant Shipping Health and Safety on MV Regs
• Risk Assessment
• Hazard/Risk
• Key terms - significant, reasonable and practicable, 
• Control measures
• Practical risk assessment on 
• Risk ratings
• Implementation

this course last for 1/2 days and will be carried out online. 

Please complete the expression of interest form for prices and dates.

Yacht Technologies Distance learning 

The Navalapp online Yacht Design, Naval Architecture, and Ocean Engineering training hub has a number of Naval Architecture and Yacht Design courses that surveyors may wish to undertake from as little as €70 per course. Accredited by the Royal Institute of Naval Architecture (RINA), the YDSA are happy to promote and support the courses which have been developed to help industry understand ISO 12215 and ISO 12217, these courses give a strong foundation in the understanding of the two International Standards that underpin vessel design and construction both for recreational vessels but also small commercial, and so are a must have for Surveyors.

There are a number of other courses surveyors may find interesting, including, FEA for Marine Structures, CFD for Yachts, Composite Materials and Rhino 3D modelling. 

Navalapp online - Structural Design & Scantling with ISO 12215

By completing this course, you will be able to design the structure of a boat, understand the ISO 12215 standard and the fundamentals behind it, and apply this  to evaluate the scantlings of either motorboats or sailing yachts.

Navalapp online - Stability & Evaluation with ISO 12217

By completing this course, you will understand stability in the context of yachts and small craft and how to apply this knowledge to use the ISO 12217 Standard, “Small craft — Stability and buoyancy assessment and categorization,” Part 2, “Sailing boats of hull length greater than or equal to 6 m.”

Solid Fuel Stove Installation in Small Craft

With over 30,000 licensed boats on the inland waterways, a wide number are using renewable fuel sources to heat habitable accommodation. HETAS has seen a rise in enquiries received regarding the effective design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of stoves on boats.

Developed by the Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme (HETAS) with the marine industry this course is suitable for HETAS Registered Installers, Sweep & Service Technicians, and candidates with a marine industry background who wish to extend their scope and knowledge of solid fuel dry appliances in Small Craft.

Solid Fuel Stoves Installation in Small Craft

New Materials

The YDSA is developing face to face training to support its members in the surveying of alternative materials, such as Steel, HDPE and Aluminium, sight up to and keep an eye out for our eshots highlighting when these courses may be running. 

YDSA Courses and Events Calendar 

British Marine RCR Awareness Course

Designed to increase and expand your knowledge of the post Brexit Recreational Craft Regulations, you will learn extensive and up to date information on the RCR and its associated International Standards. 

YDSA Members and Operators can receive a 10% discount on the British Marine non-member price, 

Please complete the expression of interest form for prices and dates.

British Marine Basic Marine Electronics Installer

An informative one-day course that provides all the skills and knowledge electronic installers need for installation and maintenance of electronics on boats, leading to an industry recognised qualification. Aimed at individuals with at least one year’s experience in electronics.

The Marine Electronics Installer (MEI) certificate is an indication of a working knowledge of NMEA’s Installation Standard, which clarifies and defines competent installation practices. A Marine Electronics Installer has demonstrated this proficiency by passing an examination designed to measure understanding of those principles.

Suitable for electronics engineers with at least a year’s experience, who are looking to further their knowledge and gaining a qualification in marine electronics.

Topics include ground systems, electrical systems, equipment installation and data communications including extensive information on everything you need to know about marine electronics to carrying out electronics work on boats.

YDSA Members and Operators can receive a 10% discount on the British Marine non-member price, 

Please complete the expression of interest form for prices and dates.

Basic Marine Electronics Installer

British Marine Electrical Technician

A practical and stimulating two-day course that provides the skills needed for the installation and maintenance of electrics on boats, leading to an industry-recognised qualification. Suitable for electrical engineers looking to further their knowledge and skills and gain a qualification in marine electrics. 

A two-day course based around the BMEEA Code of Practice, the industry-recommended standard. The course is designed to give candidates a general overview of the knowledge and skills required for a BMEEA-certified Marine Electrical Technician. All information and required knowledge used mainly with UK marine electric systems and follows not only the BMEEA Code of Practice and ISOs, but also the Recreational Craft Regulations (RCR).

YDSA Members and Operators can receive a 10% discount on the British Marine non-member price, 

Please complete the expression of interest form for prices and dates.

British Marine Electrical Technician BMET

Law relating to brokerage and boat retailers

As a marine surveyor it’s a good idea to understand the responsibilities of those customers you work with on a daily basis, Brokers and boat retailers typically have responsibility for ensuring that the legal framework surrounding the sale and purchase of small craft is fit for purpose and for conducting the transaction successfully within this framework.

The course is designed to give brokers the latest updates and legislation on issues covering law when selling new and second-hand boats, and it provides invaluable information and guidance to help understand the possible legal problems when selling boats, as such it is invaluable training for surveyors to understand how and why brokers require what they do.

Covering topics within Legal Concepts, Consumer Protection and RCR and Title, the course provides invaluable information and guidance.

YDSA Members and Operators can receive a 10% discount on the British Marine non-member price, 

Please complete the expression of interest form for prices and dates.

The Law Relating to Brokerage and Boat Retailers

Hire Boat Code

Designed to support the inland boat hire industry's implementation of the Hire Boat Code, the code of best working practices for the design, construction and operation of Hire Boats.

• Get an overview on the content of the code and how to apply it on your hire boat business
• Understanding your responsibilities as a hire boat operator
• Understanding Safety Management Systems and their management
• Understanding the new stability requirements and how to meet them

YDSA Members and Operators can receive a 10% discount on the British Marine non-member price, 

Please complete the expression of interest form for prices and dates.

Hire Boat Code Course

MCA Stability for Workboats

Predominantly for operators this one day course is mandatory for those operating Workboats. there are a number of course providers nationally who are now delivering this course. 

MCA Stability for Workboats - Google Search