Merchant Navy & Offshore Training, Cadet & Marine Engineering Programs, HND & HNC Nautical Programs, and Simulator & STCW Courses at B&FC Fleetwood Nautical Campus
Blackpool and The Fylde College (Fleetwood Nautical Campus) is a major provider of university education, with degrees validated by Lancaster University. The College offers further education degree courses and part time courses. The college has been designated as a National Beacon of Excellence and was recently re-accredited for the Charter Mark in recognition of the excellent service it provides to all its learners.
The centers in Fleetwood form a specialized Nautical campus, which teaches MCA accredited courses for merchant seafarers and offshore workers. Fleetwood campus is recognized as one of the top nautical establishments in the country with a wide range of UK and overseas students.
The School maintained excellent industry relations, from its long-standing links with the likes of Ship Safe Training Group and Clyde Marine to newer partnerships such as those with BAE Systems and the Nigerian Ports Authority.
Both Maritime Studies and Offshore are accredited to ISO 9000:2000. Courses are run to the highest standard with an impressive number of state-of-the-art resources which include a Transas full mission ship Simulator with five bridges, a fire ground approved by the MCA and OPITO, seamanship centre and launching platform open to the sea, environmental tank and helicopter underwater escape trainer. The Fleetwood Nautical Campus has a worldwide reputation for excellence.
Maritime & Offshore Training Programs
Cadet Preparation Courses
- Deck Shipping and Maritime Operations - Level 3 (20 to 27 weeks): This qualification is considered as an entry qualification for wide variety of maritime employment. Generally this course is provided to all shipping company sponsored candidates undergoing an approved training scheme to become an officer in the merchant navy. This award is available to all non-sponsored candidates looking for careers in the merchant navy or wider maritime industry which includes river navigation, code vessel employability, off-shore market, merchant navy etc.
- Engineering Shipping and Maritime Operations - Level 3 (20 to 27 weeks): This qualification is considered as an entry qualification for wide variety of maritime employment. Generally this course is provided to all shipping company sponsored candidates undergoing an approved training scheme to become an officer in the merchant navy. This award is now available to all non-sponsored candidates looking for careers in the merchant navy or wider maritime industry which includes river navigation, code vessel employability, off-shore market, merchant navy etc.
Preparation for Cadet Training & Merchant Navy Deck
- Deck Shipping and Maritime Operations - Level 3 (22 weeks): The Level 3 Diploma in Shipping and Maritime Operations is for anyone wanting to progress to an officer role within the Merchant Navy. Offering both deck officer and engine officer routes, the course provides the underpinning knowledge needed to progress to the HNC/HND in Nautical Science or Marine Engineering and thereby qualify for the Officer of the Watch (OOW) Certificate of Competency (CoC).
- Nautical Science - Foundation Degree (3 years): Approved by the Merchant Navy Training Board, this three-year program combines theoretical training with safety training and 12 months’ seagoing time, leading to the award of Officer of the Watch (OOW) Certificate of Competency (CoC). This program is only available to students sponsored by a shipping company or cadet training provider due to the work-based learning modules, which should be completed on board ships.
Merchant Navy Deck Courses
- Cadets - Advanced Diploma Nautical Science Top Up (29 weeks): Students will achieve good understanding of Marine Navigation, Ship Stability, Shipboard Operations, Shipmasters Business and Shipboard Management and solve problems from a Management perspective. Students will also develop practical skills through bridge simulation and Cargo/Stability programs.
- Chief Mate (Unlimited COC) - Advanced Diploma Nautical Science (1 year): Students will achieve good understanding of Marine Navigation, Ship Stability, Shipboard Operations, Shipmasters Business and Shipboard Management and solve problems from a management perspective. Students will also develop practical skills through bridge simulation and cargo/stability programs.
- Chief Mate / Foundation Degree Orals Preparation (4 weeks): This course is designed to accommodate seafarers who have followed a Foundation Degree (Fd) route during their cadetship and are now seeking their Chief Mates (Unlimited) Certificate of Competency (CoC). This course would also benefit officers who have followed a HND route, who seek an extended preparation period.
- Nautical Science (Officer of the Watch Deck - Unlimited) - Advanced Certificate (1 years): This 1-year program leads to the award of the Officer of the Watch (OOW) Certificate of Competency (CoC).
- Officer of the Watch Deck (Unlimited) - Advanced Certificate (25-26 weeks): This 26-week program leads to the award of the Officer of the Watch (OOW) Certificate of Competency (CoC).
- Chief Mate SQA Exam Support (5 to 6 weeks)
- HND to Chief Mate - SQA Exam Support (8 to 9 weeks):
- Masters Orals (4 weeks)
- OOW Orals Preparation (4 weeks)
- OOW SQA Exam Support (1 to 5 weeks)
Merchant Navy Engineering Courses
- Marine Engineering - Advanced Certificate (42 weeks): This program is aimed at applicants wishing to pursue a career at sea. It allows you to study for an HNC whilst employed at sea as a trainee officer. The program is designed in a phased model, with academic College-based phases being interspersed with time served at sea on board ship.
- Marine Engineering - Advanced Diploma (28 weeks): This program is aimed at applicants wishing to pursue a career at sea. Students will either have a sponsoring company or be undertaking the qualification in their own right and this will allow you to seek employment as a Second Engineer on board merchant vessels.
- Officer of the Watch Orals Preparation (Engine) (4 weeks)
- Orals Preparation (Second and Chief Engineers) - Engineering Management (3 weeks)
- Written Exam Preparation (Second and Chief Engineers) - Engineering Management (5 weeks)
Nautical Science Blended Learning
- Chief Mate (Unlimited UK COC) - Advanced Diploma Nautical Science (Blended Learning) (5 years): This qualification comprises the AdD Nautical Science, delivered by blended learning to allow you to work online at your own pace, with practical and formal assessments taking place at the College.
- Officer of The Watch (Unlimited UK COC) - Advanced Certificate Nautical Science (Blended Learning) (5 years): Fleetwood Nautical Campus currently offers the Advanced Certificate (AdC) in Nautical Science by Blended Learning to students who are overseas, work full time or prefer to study in a flexible mode.
STCW Courses
- Advanced Liquid Cargo Handling (LCHS) (5 days)
- Advanced Liquified Gas Tanker Cargo Operations (1 week)
- Advanced Oil Tanker Cargo Operations (4 days to 1 week)
- GMDSS (GOC) (2 weeks)
- HELM (M) (1 week)
- High Voltage (Management) (1 week)
- NAEST O (1 week or 5 weeks)
Bridge and Engine Simulator Courses
- Bridge Team Management (BTM) (1 week)
- Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) (1 week)
- Marine Pilots Advanced Ship Handling (1 week)
- NAEST M (1 week)
- Ship Handling Course (1 week)
- Ship to Ship Transfers (STS Operations) (3 days)
VTS Courses
- GMDSS ROC (3 days)
- VTS (IALA V103/1) Induction Course (1 week)
- VTS (IALA V103/1) Operator Simulator Course (1 week)
- VTS (IALA V103/1) RADAR ARPA Course (1 week)
- VTS (IALA V103/5) Refresher (3 days)
- VTS (V103/1) Module 4 - Nautical Knowledge (Blended Learning) (3 hours)
Offshore Courses
- Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (OPITO HUET; & CA-EBS)
- Basic Offshore Safety Induction Emergency Training (BOSIET and CA-EBS)
- Basic Offshore Safety Induction Emergency Training (BOSIET and CA-EBS) and Escape Chute
- Minimum Industry Safety Training (MIST)
- Further Offshore Emergency training with CA-EBS (FOET)
- Further Offshore Emergency Training (FOET & CA-EBS) & Escape Chute
- Euro Upgrade
- Offshore Lifeboat Coxswains
- Further Coxswains Training
- Emergency First Aid
- First Aid at Work
- First Aid at Work - Qualsafe (Annual Refresher)
- First Aid at Work Refresher
- Confined Space Courses
GWO Renewable Courses
- Fire Awareness
- Fire Awareness Refresher
- First Aid
- First Aid Refresher
- Manual Handling
- Manual Handling Refresher
- Survival
- Survival Refresher
- Working at Height
- Working at Height (Refresher - 1 Day)