Skills for Work - Intermediate 2 (SCQF Level 5)

You usually take a "Skills for Work" course if you want to develop:

• awareness and understanding of a specific type of work or industry
• skills that are relevant to the type of work that you are interested in
• employability skills, such as customer care, communication or working with others
• awareness of health and safety issues relevant to the industry
• an informed approach to any ideas you may have about careers or courses

Maritime Skills: Intermediate 2

Why Maritime Skills?

The maritime sector includes people who work in commercial sea fishing, marine leisure businesses , ports and harbours, as well as those working in the Merchant Navy and Royal Navy.

Scotland has played an important role in maritime history and the maritime sector is still important to the Scottish economy. About 52% of jobs in sea fishing in Scotland are in the Highlands and Islands.

The maritime sector offers good opportunities for those who enjoy:

• working as part of a team
• learning practical skills
• sailing, ships and other vessels
• taking responsibility
• handling and using equipment
• fixing mechanical equipment.

Course Outline

The course is made up of five compulsory units, three take 40 hours of study and two take 20 hours of study.

• Seamanship: An Introduction
• Maritime Environment: An Introduction
• Small Boat Engineering
• Health and Safety in the Maritime Sector
• Employability Skills and Careers in the Maritime Sector

You will learn about:

• operating boats and their equipment
• boat handling, including mooring and securing a vessel
• how to use a marine chart to plot a vessel's position
• how to take account of the weather in all aspects of the marine sector
• safe working practices on board ship, basic first aid and fire safety
• basic engineering skills involved in maintaining boat engines
• survival in the water skills
• career and course opportunities in the maritime sector.

Where will I take the course?

You will usually train at a local college. Training sessions will take place for a set number of hours and weeks during term time.

Work experience/placements

Due to health and safety requirements it is not normally possible to arrange maritime work experience placement for young people. However, where possible, you may be able to visit maritime employers.
 

Assessment

Assessment will be based on a range of practical activities in real or simulated workplace settings. Tutors will observe and keep records of your work. Some assessment may be done online using an e-portfolio system.

You will complete self-evaluations, a folio of work and a National Assessment Bank (NAB) assessment. This course will show on your final SQA Exam Certificate as an Intermediate 1 award.

Progression

You may be able to progress to:

 Employment /Training

• Employment in the fishing industry, Merchant Navy or Royal Navy
• A Modern Apprenticeship leading to a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) level 2 to 3 in Sea Fishing.

Further/Higher Education

• A one year full time National Certificate (NC) or National Qualification (NQ) in Access to the Merchant Navy.
• A one year full time college course in Pre-sea Training for Deck Ratings in the Fishing Industry