Boat Safety and Control Course
This course gives you the essential skills and knowledge to operate boats safely and efficiently. You will study maritime safety rules, emergency procedures, safe navigation techniques and basic boat maintenance, so that you are prepared to respond effectively to critical situations and keep everyone on board safe.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Boat Safety and Control Course?
This short course prepares you to keep a boat, its crew and its passengers safe. You will learn how international safety rules and safety management systems shape life on board, how to handle a boat in adverse conditions and use modern navigation equipment, how to identify, assess and mitigate risks and prepare contingency plans, including pollution incidents and security threats, how to inspect and maintain fire detection, lifesaving and communication equipment, and how to act in emergencies such as abandoning ship, man overboard or fire through realistic drills and exercises.
What sets this course apart: practical simulations that let you handle emergencies in a controlled environment; a hands-on approach built on exercises and case studies; a complete view that links regulations, boat handling, risk management and equipment maintenance; attention to coordination with search and rescue services; and drills designed to strengthen decision-making and teamwork under pressure.
Program highlights
- Practical simulations: emergency handling in a controlled environment.
- Safety management: international rules, safety management systems and emergency protocols.
- Boat control: navigation and maneuvering in adverse conditions.
- Risk and contingencies: assessment, mitigation and response plans.
- Safety equipment: inspection, testing and preventive maintenance.
- Drills: realistic scenarios to strengthen decision-making and teamwork.
Syllabus of the Boat Safety and Control Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Fundamentals of maritime safety
- 1.1. International maritime safety regulations
- 1.2. Safety management systems on board
- 1.3. Roles and responsibilities of skipper and crew
- 1.4. Emergency protocols and coordination with rescue coordination centers
Advanced boat control and safe navigation
- 2.1. Safe navigation techniques and passage planning
- 2.2. Maneuvering in adverse weather and sea conditions
- 2.3. Use of modern navigation and communication equipment
- 2.4. Weather assessment and decision-making at sea
Risk management and contingency planning
- 3.1. Identification and assessment of risks on board
- 3.2. Mitigation measures and contingency plans
- 3.3. Response to marine pollution incidents: priorities, containment and clean-up
- 3.4. Maritime security against unlawful acts: security levels, risk assessment and access control
Inspection and maintenance of safety equipment
- 4.1. Fire detection and firefighting systems
- 4.2. Lifesaving appliances and survival equipment
- 4.3. Communication and distress alerting devices
- 4.4. Safety inspections, fault detection and documentation of findings
- 4.5. Preventive maintenance planning
Emergency drills and practical exercises
- 5.1. Abandon ship procedures
- 5.2. Man overboard recovery
- 5.3. Fire on board
- 5.4. Damage assessment and prioritization of resources
- 5.5. Communication with search and rescue authorities and crew coordination
Duration and format of the Boat Safety and Control Course
It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Boat Safety and Control Course
Career opportunities after the Boat Safety and Control Course
Questions about the Boat Safety and Control Course
To prevent accidents, protect the lives of the people on board and minimize damage to the boat and the environment.
Abandoning ship, man overboard, fire on board, damage assessment, pollution incidents and security threats, with drills for each.
No. Navalis teaches the subject; official safety certificates and nautical licenses are issued by the competent maritime authority after its own training and examinations.
Yes. The content helps owners protect their boat and passengers and helps professionals strengthen their safety management.
Yes. One module covers the inspection, testing and preventive maintenance of fire detection, lifesaving and communication equipment.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
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Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at recreational and professional skippers, crew members and deckhands, boat owners, sailing instructors and nautical schools, and maritime rescue and coastguard staff; vocational training in maritime, safety or emergency fields, or proven professional experience in maritime safety and boat operation, is recommended, together with basic knowledge of navigation, maritime law, communications and emergency procedures.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.