Deck Hand Commercial Fishing
Become: Deck Hand Commercial Fishing
You are aged 17 or over and want to get the basic qualifications to allow you to start your career at sea as a deck hand on board a commercial fishing vessel, a merchant navy vessel, or an offshore support/standby vessel. You will undergo a seafarer medical test (ENG 1) and strict drug screening test. A basic level of core skills are required. Entry to the course (Scottish Maritime Academy, Peterhead http://www.smaritime.co.uk/) is by interview. The 12 week course covers: Basic safety training: Personal Survival Technique, First Aid, Basic Fire Fighting, Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities. It also includes all the basic requirements of a Merchant Navy deckhand: Practical rope and wire work, steel work and deck equipment maintenance, anchoring, mooring and securing of vessels, personal health and safety on board ship, survival craft and rescue boat, personal emergency action on board ship, introduction to small craft.
Training specific to commercial fishing is delivered by the Whitby and District Fishing Industry Training School. http://www.whitbyfishingschool.co.uk/ A broad range of training including Seafish specialist courses, STCW and Apprenticeships are offered. No set qualifications are needed to start as a trainee deckhand which is the usual starting point, but entrants need to be physically fit, with good hearing and eyesight. However, appropriate training is essential and details are at: http://www.seafish.org/training/seagoing-training/fishing
The above examples are from 2 of the 20 Seafish accredited training providers located around the UK.
About: Deck Hand Commercial Fishing
Fishing takes place all around the UK coast but the commercial fishing industry is largely based around the Scottish islands, the east coast of Scotland, and the east and south-west coasts of England. There are currently around 12,000 fishermen/women in the UK and whilst the numbers are gently decreasing in recent years, there are more vacancies than applicants. Employers range from large companies to small family businesses with just one or two people. There are around 6,400 registered fishing vessels of different types and sizes. They include inshore fishing boats, trawlers, netters, crabbers and factory ships and together land catches to the value of £717 million per year; over 60% of that is landed in Scotland with the West Country the next largest landing area. A key issue for the fishing industry is sustainability. The challenge is to protect the livelihood of the workforce while at the same time conserving fish stocks and promoting best environment practice. There is sharp and unrelenting focus on sustainability and increasing incidence of fish farming – aquaculture – to meet the consistently high demand for seafood. In a commercial boat, the crew broadly comprises Deckhand, Skipper and Engineer. Fishing is recognised to be the most dangerous occupation in the United Kingdom. Whilst you may start on £10,000, normally young crewmen going to sea with all the required certificates would get a quarter share to start. This would increase to half share after a short time and you have proved your capability. Half share, depending on the boat, could last for 6/8 months before moving up to a full share.
A fully qualified deckhand who performs well and moved to a full share at the end of their first year on a boat would be disappointed not to earn £15,000 in that first year.
Case Study
Student Testimonials (Whitby and District Fishing Industry Training School) - courtesy of Seafish.
Chris Higgins: “I decided to study the Level 2 Diploma in Maritime Studies because I liked the idea of gaining both practical and theory based training. Over the last 6 months the school has given me the opportunity to gain maritime skills and practical experience on a variety of fishing vessels. The training school provides the perfect balance between education, extra-curricular activities and free time. The school, staff and education are all amazing! I’ve not decided what job I want when I graduate next year, but I’m sure that having a portfolio of 12 certificates and a logbook of over 1500 sea going hours will help secure a permanent job in the maritime industry.”
Mark Wilkinson: “Sea Fishing has always been a massive love of mine and I felt that doing formal training could really cement my understanding of the industry. What I enjoy most about the course is the diverse range of modules available and the ability to really consider and learn new material, especially when participating in the practical based Seafish courses such as the Basic Sea Survival and Basic First Aid. Over the last few months I’ve begun to realise how valuable the safety training really is and how important it will be for my career in the industry The diploma has so much to offer from general seamanship, communications (radios), bridge watch-keeping, navigation or even engineering, there’s something for everyone!”
Nathan Williamson: “The Level 2 Diploma in Maritime Studies gives you so many career options. I hope to stay in the sea fishing industry once I complete my course. The practical skills developed on the course certainly help when going on board your vessel for the first time. I feel that this course is perfect for getting a balanced view of how the sea fishing industry really works. The teaching is up to a standard that you would expect at such an establishment. Because the fishing school is relatively small this means that course instructors can spend more time speaking to each of us.”