Courses Offered

All firefighting, navigational radar, and safety classes are held in New Orleans East.

Firefighting and Safety Courses and Descriptions

NEW!! Advanced Fire Fighting NEW!!

32-hour course
USCG and STCW approved

The Advanced Fire Fighting Course provides both classroom and an immersive experience using virtual reality simulation to prepare today's mariners in the inspection and maintenance of firefighting equipment and systems, as well as command and control of a fire situation with the final goal of extinguishment. The course is structured as a 32-hour comprehensive program conducted over a four-day period, utilizing classroom instruction and XVR Simulation.

The XVR virtual reality software for training maritime personnel in Advanced Firefighting. This software has a built-in environment that simulates a vessel and all its spaces. The facilitator will use and control pre-made fire situations in the program. Situations can range in size and scope from a small to raging.

PREREQUISITE for this training: you must have previously taken the full Basic Fire Fighting course.

Basic and Advanced Fire Fighting

40-hour course
USCG approved
3-day classroom training followed by 2-day field training
Training includes:
- Fire Prevention
- Classification of Fire Extinguishing Agents
- Fire Concepts and Behavior
- Situations and Assessment
- Hose Handling
- Portable Extinguishers
- Fixed CO2 System and Foam Demonstration
- High Velocity Fire Fog
- Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
- Smoke Maze (Search & Rescue)
- Compartment Fire (Horizontal Attack)
- Galley & Cabin Fires

Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation

8-hour course
USCG and STCW approved

Students will receive an immersive experience using virtual reality simulation to prepare today's mariners in the inspection and maintenance of firefighting equipment and systems, as well as command and control of a fire situation with the final goal of extinguishment.

In order to be eligible for this course, mariners must have taken the complete U.S. Coast Guard Advanced Fire Fighting Training, AND have one year of cumulative sea time within the last 5 years.

Starting in 2017, officers will need to renew firefighting coursework every five years. This is a provision of the Coast Guard’s final rule based on the STCW Manila Amendments of 2010.

In the U.S., the Coast Guard has issued a Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC), which outlines the new requirements for re-establishing Advanced Firefighting competency: “Mariners holding STCW officer endorsements are required to demonstrate continued proficiency for the revalidation of the Advanced Firefighting endorsement.”

The primary goals of this course is to provide mariners with a sound working knowledge of the causes of fires so as best to prevent them, and to develop skill and confidence to respond appropriately in the event of fire.

Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher

16-hour course
USCG and STCW approved

Students will receive classroom instruction and an immersive experience using virtual reality simulation to prepare today's mariners in the inspection and maintenance of firefighting equipment and systems, as well as command and control of a fire situation with the final goal of extinguishment.

In order to be eligible for this course, mariners must have taken the complete U.S. Coast Guard Advanced Fire Fighting Training.

Starting in 2017, officers will need to renew firefighting coursework every five years. This is a provision of the Coast Guard’s final rule based on the STCW Manila Amendments of 2010.

Leadership and Managerial Skills

35-hour course
USCG approved

This U.S. Coast Guard approved course is intended to provide a person with the knowledge, skill and understanding of leadership at the management level (not operational level) on board a vessel.

The course is designed specifically for Management Level Masters, Chief Mates, (II/2, II/3), Chief Engineers, and Second Engineer Officers (III/2, III/3) who are required to hold an STCW licensed endorsement.

This course will meet STCW requirements for the application of leadership skills, in accordance with the 2010 Manila Amendments, specifically as stated in tables A-11/1,A-111/1 and A-111/6, Function: Controlling the operation of the ship and care for persons on board at the operational level.

On completion of the course the trainee should be able to demonstrate sufficient understanding and knowledge of leadership and team working and have the relevant skills to competently carry out the duties of officer in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more, or officer in charge of an engineering watch in a manned engine-room or designated duty engineer in a periodically unmanned engine-room. The knowledge, understanding and proficiency should include, but not be limited to, those listed in Column 2 of tables A-11/1, A-111/1 and A-111/6:

Working knowledge of shipboard personnel management and training.
Knowledge of related international maritime conventions, recommendations and national legislation.
Ability to apply task and workload management.
Knowledge and ability to apply effective resource management.
Knowledge and ability to apply decision making techniques.

STCW Basic Training

5-day course
Each module is USCG approved

This course defines basic training requirements for maritime employees to work and stand watch aboard certain maritime vessels that fall under the requirements prescribed in Regulation VI/I, and Section A-VI/I of STCW 95.

The course includes four training modules, which may be scheduled independently.

Module 1 - Personal Safety/Social Responsibilities (4 hours)

Precautions to prevent pollution in the marine environment
Understanding orders in relation to shipboard duties
Contributing to effective human relationships on board vessels

Module 2 - Water Survival [Personal Survival Techniques](12 hours)

Survival at sea in the event of ship abandonment
Types of emergency situations
Emergency preparedness
Evaluation procedures
Use of equipment in survival crafts and rescue boats
Principles of survival at sea
Emergency radio equipment
Water escape techniques
Survival action once on surface

Module 3 - Basic Fire Fighting (16 hours)

Shipboard fire fighting procedures and organization
Theory of fire types
Sources of ignition fire hazards
Spread of fire
Classification of fire and applicable extinguishing systems
Fire detection and alarm system
Use of protective equipment (SCBA)
Exercises in extinguishing fires

Module 4 - First Aid/CPR (8 hours)

Assessment of casualties and threats to own safety
Body structure and functions
Positioning of casualty
Unconscious casualties and resuscitation
Bleeding and wounds
Management of shock
Burns and scalds
Rescue and transport casualties
Bandages and use of first aid emergency kit

Medical Care Provider

24-hour course
USCG approved

This course provides the student with the knowledge and skills needed to conduct a primary and secondary survey of a sick and/or injured person, immobilize the patient, and begin immediate treatment to preserve life. These are all skills which typically must be performed before obtaining radio medical advice.

The following topics are covered in this course:

The well-being of the First Responder (Medical First Aid Provider)
Medical, legal, and ethical issues
Lifting and moving patients
Airway management
Scene assessment
Vital signs
Trauma and medical patient assessment
Bleeding and shock
Soft tissue and musculoskeletal injuries
Head and spine injuries
Cardiac and diabetic emergencies
Poisoning and overdose
Environmental emergencies
Sterilization
Radio medical advice
General pharmacology

Tank Barge Dangerous Liquids

32 hour course
USCG approved

This course provides training for any person with immediate responsibility for the loading, discharging and care in transit or handling of cargo.

Any applicant successfully completing this course will satisfy the training requirements of 46 CFR Table 13.121(e) for an endorsement as Tankerman–PIC (Barge DL, and satisfy the training requirements of 46 CFR 10.227(e)(iii) for renewal of a Merchant Mariner Credential endorsed as Tankerman PIC (Barge DL) appropriate, and upon approval by the Commandant.

Pre-requisites: This course is open to experienced seafarers who have not necessarily served on board a Tank Barge as part of the regular complement but who have completed an §13.407-approved firefighting course, and an approved course on first aid. There is no minimum entry standard prescribed for this course.

Tank Barge Dangerous Liquids and Liquefied Gases

40 hour course
USCG approved

This course provides training for any person with immediate responsibility for the loading, discharging and care in transit or handling of cargo. It comprises a specialized training program appropriate to duties of tank barge safety, fire safety measures, pollution prevention, operational practice and onligations under applicable laws and regulations.

Any applicant successfully completing this course will satisfy the training requirements of 46 CFR Table 13.301(c)(4) for an endorsement as Tankerman–PIC (Barge) DL & LG, and satisfy the training requirements of 46 CFR 13.120(a)(2) for renewal of a Merchant Mariner Credential endorsed as Tankerman PIC (Barge) DL and/or LG.

Vessel Security Officer

13-hour course
USCG approved

This course is designed to satisfy the requirements of the Maritime Transportations Security Act of 2002 and the International Ship and Port Security Code.

Course Pre-requisite: Must be a U.S. Coast Guard credentialed mariner who is employed (or is to be employed) by a vessel owner or operator.

The course covers the following topics:

Learn how to inspect vessels to ensure security measures are in place.
Learn how to ensure security awareness and vigilance on board the vessel.
Ensure consistency between security requirements and the proper treatment of vessel personnel affected by those requirements.
Ensure TWIC programs are in place and implemented appropriately.

Navigational Radar Courses and Descriptions

Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (Pending Approval)

32-hour course
USCG and STCW approved

This course covers the following topics:

Demonstrations of practical assessments to satisfy the ARPA training requirements for certification as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch on vessels of 500 or more gross tonnage.
Choose appropriate modes of display.
Select plotting and graphics controls suitable to the circumstances.
Make appropriate use of operational alarms.
Acquire and track targets to avert collision.
Extract course, speed, and nearest approaches.
Enable early action to avoid close-quarter situations.

Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (Pending Approval)

40-hour course
USCG approved

This course provides trainees with the knowledge, skill and understanding of ECDIS and electronic charts to the thorough extent needed to safely navigate vessels whose primary means of navigation is ECDIS. The course emphasizes both the application and learning of ECDIS in a variety of underway contexts, through sophisticated navigation simulation. The course includes applicable assessments of competence for STCW endorsements as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch (OICNW), Chief Mate, and Master.

Global Marine Distress and Safety System

70-hour course
USCG and STCW approved

This course prepares radio personnel to meet the criteria and competency levels set under the International Convention Standards of Training, Certification of Watchkeeping (STCW) for the use of GMDSS systems.

Participants successfully completing this course will satisfy the training requirements of 46 CFR 10.205(n) and Table A-IV/2 of the STCW Code.

Topics include:

Principles of communication
Use of GMDSS equipment
Distress alerting
Communication procedures

Radar Observer

40 hour course; taught over 5 days
USCG approved

This course is designed to satisfy the general requirements 46 CFR 10/305 and 46 CFR 10.307. It provides both classroom and simulator experience to prepare mariners for the United States Coast Guard Radar Observer endorsement for unlimited and inland waters.

The unlimited class is a five-day, 40 contact-hour course. The inland class is a four-day, 32-hour course.

Classroom and simulator experience is intended to prepare mariners for the USCG Radar Observer endorsement.

Emphasis will be given to the following terms and concepts:

Relative stabilized verses relative unstabilized
True motion verses relative motion
Relative course and relative speed
Contact course and contact speed
Bearing and range
Time to closest point of approach
Parallel indexing

Steersman/Apprentice Mate

Note: Students will need a laptop for portions of this class.

18-day course
USCG approved

Certification for Master of Towing Vessels for endorsement of a U.S. Coast Guard License, as per 46 CFR 10.464, 46 CFR 10.465 and NVIC 4-91.

The license obtained from this course will be endorsed for one of the following routes:

Oceans
Near-coastal waters
Great lakes-inland waters

The United States Coast Guard, upon issuance of this license, will determine the appropriate route.

Successful completer must present the Certificate of Training at a Regional Exam Center within one year of completion of training, to satisfy the examination requirements of 46 CFR 10.205 (i) for original issuance of 46 CFR 10.209 (c) (iii) for renewal of a license as Apprentice Mate (Steersman) of Towing Vessels (Near Coastal or Inland).

This course will not satisfy the navigation problems examination requirement for a license valid upon western rivers.

During this course, mariners will learn the responsibilities required as they transition from working on the deck of a vessel to the wheelhouse alongside pilots and captains.

Topics covered in this course include the following:

Rules of the Road

Inland and International Rules
Browse Navigation Rules online

Deck Safety

Fire Safety
Emergency Procedures
Rescue Procedures
Stability, Trim and Stress

Deck General

Marlinespike Seamanship
Purchases, Blocks and Tackles
Shipboard Management
Watchkeeping
Vessel Maneuvering

Navigation General

Electronic Navigation
Instruments and Accessories
Aids to Navigation
Charts, Navigation Publications and Notices to Mariners
Compass Corrections
Weather Charts and Reports
Characteristics of Weather Systems

Chart Navigation

Distance off
Bearing Problems
Chart Navigation
Dead Reckoning
Fix or Running Fix
Tides & Tidal Currents

Western Rivers Navigation

2-day course
USCG approved

Western Rivers include the Port Allen area and all navigable routes above the New Orleans Huey P. Long Bridge heading north, with the exclusion of Great Lakes. This course provides training to prove competency in Western Rivers operations.

This course prepares individuals to obtain credentials for employment on Western Rivers in accordance with Requirements for Original Licenses and Endorsements as set forth in 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 10.205(i) for original issuance, 46CFR 10.209(c)(iii) for renewal, or 46CFR 10.209(f) for re-issuance of a license as Apprentice Mate (Steersman) of Towing Vessels for Western Rivers.

Topics include the following:

Aids to Navigation
Publications
Locks
Bridges
River Operations
Chart Work

Radar Recertification/Renewal

1-day course for recertification
2-day course for renewal
USCG approved

The renewal course consists of day of review and one day of testing for those mariners wishing to renew their Radar Observer Endorsement for unlimited and inland waters.

Prerequisite: Must have successfully completed Radar Observer training.

For licensing requirements, please visit the U.S. Coast Guard website.

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