Updated Proficiency In Fast Rescue Boats (PFRB) Training Course Overview

The Certificate of Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats (PFRB) Update Training is a practical training course for seafarers who are required to take charge of a fast rescue boat and any crew on a Merchant Navy vessel who make up part of the FRB crew. The update training is specifically for those who already hold a Certificate of Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats (PFRB) certificate issued within the preceding 5 years.

Locations:

• Half of the day will be conducted at the City of Glasgow College Riverside Campus (Glasgow)
• The other half of the day at the Clyde Training Solutions centre)
• (Transport will be available for candidates to make the round trip if required)

Course Content:

Route 1

Update training is to be under taken, in line with the above regulations, by seafarers holding a Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats certificate and have maintained the required standard of competence, by onboard training and experience, for all competencies listed in the self-declaration form (Annex D). Seafarers must sign the self-declaration form as a pre-requisite to the reduced hours entry route of the MCA approved update training course.

• FRB maintenance and contingency repairs.
• Pre-use checks of FRB and PPE.
• Briefing crew for recovery duties.
• Recover a casualty from the water and effect their safe transfer to a place of safety.
• Undertake waterborne capsize of FRB in controlled environment.
• Carry out post capsize procedures, including righting of FRB whilst swimming in appropriate equipment and then reboarding FRB.

Route 2

This route is available to seafarers holding a Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats certificate who have not undergone the required update training on board ship and wish to undertake the full update training at the City of Glasgow College.

You’ll study:

• FRB construction, outfitting, routine maintenance and contingency repairs.
• Take charge of FRB during launch and recovery.
• Handle FRB in prevailing conditions while using communication equipment.
• Carry out search patterns and recover a simulated casualty from the water.
• Identify the dangers and causes of FRB capsize and describe procedures to follow in event of capsize.
• Swim in personal protective equipment.
• Explain actions to take in order to recover the operational capability of crew and craft, including righting procedures.
• Describe actions by coxswain and crew following capsize.
• Undertake waterborne capsize of FRB in controlled environment and carry out post capsize procedures, including righting of FRB whilst swimming in special equipment.
• Re-board FRB and establish control of craft and available equipment.

Entry Requirements:

• Candidates must hold a Certificate of Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats (PFRB) issued within the preceding 5 years.
• Candidates must be fit to participate in all aspects of the training as some of the practical aspects of the training are physically demanding in nature. If unsure as to an individual’s ability to participate in such exercises, the candidate may consider applying for a UK ENG1 medical certificate, or equivalent.

Further Information:

Note that some of the required updating training may be carried out on board ships, with certain elements that must be undertaken at the City of Glasgow College. The following training and experience that can be undertaken onboard are:

• • Take charge of a fast rescue boat during and after launch.
  • Control safe launching and recovery of a fast rescue boat.
  • Handle a fast rescue boat in prevailing weather and sea conditions.
  • Use communication and signalling equipment between the fast rescue boat and a helicopter and a ship.
  • Use the emergency equipment carried.
  • Carry out search patterns, taking account of environmental factors.

Where this onboard training and experience is undertaken, a self-declaration form (Annex D) must be signed confirming that all the requirements have been met in order to attend the requisite shore-based training course.