Boating Accident Prevention Course
The Boating Accident Prevention Course equips you with the tools and knowledge you need to minimize risks and keep your maritime activities safe. You will learn to identify potential hazards, apply effective safety procedures and respond appropriately to emergencies, in a program that combines core theory with practical exercises and real case studies for a complete understanding of safety on board.
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 Boating Accident Prevention Course?
This short course focuses on stopping accidents before they happen on recreational and small working boats. You will study the difference between an accident, an incident, a near miss, an emergency and an operational failure; the most common risks such as falls overboard, collisions, groundings, fires, breakdowns, capsizes, injuries and sudden weather changes; how the human factor, the boat, the environment and the skipper's decisions interact; how to plan a trip with route, fuel, crew, forecast, tides and ports of refuge; when to cancel, shorten or postpone an outing; how to check safety equipment, engine, batteries, steering and hull before leaving; and how to prevent collisions, man overboard, fires and injuries during maneuvers, at anchor and during activities such as swimming, snorkelling or paddle boarding.
What sets this course apart: a preventive culture built on planning, prudence, communication, maintenance and learning from incidents; ready-to-use checklists for before departure, under way and on return; analysis of real nautical accidents to understand their causes; practical guidance on the correct use and upkeep of lifejackets, liferafts, communication systems and other devices; realistic scenarios and drills; and an applied project in which you write a complete prevention plan for a real or realistic boat and trip.
Program highlights
- Preventive culture: accidents, near misses and the role of the human factor.
- Passage planning: route, fuel, weather, tides, ports of refuge and cancellation criteria.
- Pre-departure checks: safety equipment, engine, batteries, steering, hull and bilge.
- Under way: safe speed, lookout, right of way, AIS, lights and sound signals.
- Man overboard, fire and fuel leak prevention, plus safety during water activities.
- Applied project: a prevention plan with checklist, briefing and emergency roles.
Syllabus of the Boating Accident Prevention Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Foundations of boating accident prevention, recreational maritime safety and a preventive culture on board
- 1.1. The concept of a nautical accident and the differences between incident, near miss, emergency, operational failure and risk situation
- 1.2. Common risks in recreational boating: falls overboard, collisions, groundings, fires, breakdowns, capsizes, injuries and weather changes
- 1.3. The relationship between the human factor, the boat, the environment, safety equipment and the skipper's decisions
- 1.4. Responsibilities of the skipper, crew, passengers, owner and operator during navigation
- 1.5. Preventive culture: planning, prudence, communication, maintenance, training and learning from incidents
Passage planning, assessment of the environment and safe decision-making
- 2.1. Preparing the trip: route, duration, fuel, crew, weather forecast, tides and ports of refuge
- 2.2. Basic reading of wind, waves, current, visibility, storms, fog, temperature and sudden changes in the weather
- 2.3. Assessment of navigation areas: ports, channels, anchorages, beaches, shoals, rocks, maritime traffic and restricted areas
- 2.4. Criteria for canceling, changing, shortening or postponing a trip for safety reasons
- 2.5. Pre-departure briefing for crew and passengers on rules, roles, lifejackets, moving around on board and emergency procedures
Safety equipment, preventive maintenance and checks before casting off
- 3.1. Lifejackets, lifebuoys, flares, VHF, first aid kit, extinguishers, bilge pumps, lights and signaling devices
- 3.2. Checks on the engine, fuel, batteries, electrical system, steering, hull, bilge, anchoring gear and deck fittings
- 3.3. Checklists before departure, under way and on return to reduce oversights and human error
- 3.4. Preventive maintenance of critical equipment, expiry dates, accessibility, labeling and periodic testing
- 3.5. Management of loads, stowage, lines, loose objects and wet surfaces, and prevention of falls and knocks on board
Accident prevention during maneuvers, navigation, anchoring and activities on board
- 4.1. Collision prevention through lookout, safe speed, right-of-way rules, AIS, lights, signals and communication
- 4.2. Berthing, unberthing, anchoring, towing and approaching the coast while controlling wind, current and available space
- 4.3. Man overboard prevention: lifejackets, jacklines, a tidy deck, safe movement and watching over people
- 4.4. Prevention of fires, fuel leaks, electrical overloads, gases, poor ventilation and hazardous work
- 4.5. Safety during swimming, snorkelling, paddle boarding, fishing, use of the tender, activities with children and inexperienced passengers
Applied project in boating accident prevention
- 5.1. Definition of the case: sailing boat, motorboat, yacht, catamaran, tourist boat, work boat or recreational trip
- 5.2. Diagnosis of risks according to the boat, route, crew, weather, planned activities and available equipment
- 5.3. Design of the prevention plan with checklist, briefing, maintenance, safety equipment, communication and cancellation criteria
- 5.4. Preparation of response protocols for common accidents and assignment of basic roles on board
- 5.5. Proposal for incident recording, cause analysis, training and continuous improvement of safety
Duration and format of the Boating Accident Prevention 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 Boating Accident Prevention Course
Career opportunities after the Boating Accident Prevention Course
Questions about the Boating Accident Prevention Course
To protect human life at sea and the marine environment by anticipating risks, rather than relying only on the response once something has gone wrong.
The judgment and prudence of the person in charge. Equipment and checklists help, but most accidents start with a decision, so the course trains you to plan, assess conditions and know when not to go out.
Mainly at recreational and small craft: sailing boats, motorboats, yachts, catamarans, tourist and work boats, along with the schools and rental companies that operate them.
Yes. Prevention comes first, but you also learn how to raise the alarm, assign roles on board and follow response protocols for the most common accidents.
You choose a boat and a trip, diagnose its risks and write a prevention plan with checklist, briefing, maintenance, safety equipment, communication and cancellation criteria, plus protocols for common accidents.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with discussion forums, case studies of real accidents and periodic updates on rules and good practice.
The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each and ends with an applied project. 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 skippers, sailing enthusiasts, instructors and nautical schools, boat rental companies that want to standardize safety protocols, and public bodies and associations working in maritime safety; previous training in sea rescue or safety, basic knowledge of navigation and weather, or experience in nautical activities is helpful but not essential.
- 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 software to view PDF documents.
- 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.