FRB certificate will ensure competence levels

A systematic approach will ensure the optimal level of FRB sailing competence for all vessel crews.

The growth in vessel numbers and personnel in ESVAGT over the last few years has given rise to a need for a more formal registration of competence levels among the many seamen.

“ESVAGT’s key competence is to provide excellence in sea rescue,” says Asger Stürtzel Sørensen, Fleet Manager, Operation for ESVAGT:

“The growth ESVAGT has experienced over the last few years has meant that we now have more than 800 seamen. Every day, Crewing puts together crews that ensure that we provide the level of competence that is expected in relation to the ESVAGT Standard. In a fleet the size that we are today, we need a more systematic process of training and registration of competences than we have worked with previously,” he says.

ESVAGT’s FRB coaches are therefore now in the process of auditing each crew and equipping each seaman with an FRB certificate that details his or her competence level.

“We know that we are good at sailing Fast Rescue Boats. We always have been and we train this on a daily basis,” clarifies Steffen Rudbech Nielsen, Head of Ship Management Operation:

“What we want to do is ensure that we always have the optimal competence level and make it easy to maintain an overview. The best colleagues need to teach others so that we continually raise competence levels. To make this possible, the best competences need to be available to each crew, and we can ensure this by knowing the competence profile of every crew member,” he says.

Use the vessel’s experience

Rescue is a tricky discipline and safe sailing in a fast travelling FRB in high seas is demanding.

“Setting a competence formula up for something as physical as being a good boatman is a challenge,” says Asger Stürtzel Sørensen:

“The feedback from our colleagues in the fleet has been good and we have continued to adapt the FRB competence certificate so the practical competences are given the weighting they demand. The lion share of the competence evaluation is therefore based on how the FRB coaches experience sailing together with the boatman. You cannot talk your way into a competence level when you are sitting in a boat sailing on 6-8 metre high waves,” he says.

Apart from the practical skills, there is also a test of boat knowledge. This ensures that the boat is well maintained and that the seaman has a thorough understanding of the equipment on board.

“We have always built our own boats because we have always wanted to bring our experiences from rescue operations and daily work into the design. This has meant that we have continually developed and improved the boats,” says Steffen Rudbech Nielsen:

“The design of our FRBs is based on 35 years of experience. They are advanced tools that have been specially developed for the tasks that we perform. But you need to know what they are capable of if you are going to take full advantage of all the experience built into the design. A solid and extensive knowledge of the boat is essential for ensuring that we are not just good at sailing but that we are also good at sailing in ESVAGT’s boats,” he says.

FRB competence certification is being implemented this year.