Introduction

Scope:  This course is dedicated to informing, educating, and training prospective OUPV captains to insure that they become productive and safety conscious professionals in the boating industry.  On-line versions of many publications are provided to insure that students will know how to obtain the most current information.

Objective:  Captains Marine OUPV course will emphasize the importance of boating knowledge and training thereby avoiding collisions at seas as well as insuring the safety of crew and passengers.  To accomplish this, the student will listen to audio lectures along with written text materials.  Diagrams, videos, and practical exercises will be utilized to assist the student in learning this material.  Quizzes will allow students to monitor their progress.
Course time:  56 hours

Module:  Safety

Module Time:  9 hours (Lecture/Quizzes –5, Practical – 4)

Lesson Objectives:

• The learner will understand his or her safety responsibilities and requirements, including, but not limited to fire prevention and firefighting, first aide, passenger safety, vessel maintenance and safety, pollution prevention, and the use and maintenance of safety equipment. 
• The learner will know the importance of practice drills, prompt action, containment, and choice of the correct extinguisher.
• The learner will demonstrate the ability to deal with adversity, stressing safety and a thorough knowledge of safety equipment.
• The learner will be aware of his or her responsibility to their crew, passengers, vessel, other vessels, and the environment.
• The learner will understand his or her responsibilities to comply with maritime law, including the use of the Code of Federal Regulations Publications as a reference for these laws.

Teaching Methods: Print material and audio lecture, videos, practical exercises, quizzes

Teaching Materials:  Code of Federal Regulation, Classes of Fire Graphic

Practical Exercises: 

• Conduct safety drills, including a Man Overboard drill, fire drill, and abandon ship drill, using the ship’s log to document drill.
• Check safety equipment on your vessel (fire extinguishers, etc.)
• Use the on-line CFR 

Module:  Deck General and Marlinspike Seamanship

Module Time:  7 hours (Lecture/Quizzes – 5, Practical – 2)

Lesson Objectives:

• The learner will understand proper boat handling underway and not underway including anchoring, docking, and rafting.
• The learner will be knowledgeable of marine terminology, different hull types, fuels, trailering, and waterways.
• The learner will understand the different types of rope, knots, deck fittings and splicing, including the advantages and disadvantages of each.
• The learner will practice several types of knots and splices utilizing a diagram.

Teaching Method:  Print material and audio lecture, videos, practical exercises, quizzes

Teaching Materials:  Three- stranded line

Teaching Aids:  Videos of methods of tying knots and splices.

Practical Exercises:

• Knot tying
• Splicing

Module:  Navigation

Module Time:   13 hours (Lecture/Quizzes – 7   Practical – 6)

Lesson Objectives: 

• The learner will understand the differences between electronic navigation and piloting navigation.
• The learner will know how to utilize Light Lists and Coast Pilot books as well as understand what information is contained in each.  This would include the U.S. Aids To Navigation System.
• The learner will understand the effects of tides and currents and how to adjust for them.
• The learner will know important weather terminology and understand related weather concepts.
• The learner will know how to use a marine radio, including making an appropriate MAYDAY call.
• The learner will understand how GPS (Global Positioning Satellite), RADAR, and Fathometers work.

Teaching Methods:  Print material and audio lecture, videos, practical exercises, quizzes

Teaching Materials:  Text and audio lecture, excerpts from Light List, Coast Pilot, Tide Tables and Tidal Current Tables, diagrams and videos

Practical Exercises:

• Using Internet resources – Light Lists, Coast Pilots, Tide Tables
• Use Light List Plate 1 and the Fictitious Charts to understand Aids to Navigation
• Using a Marine Radio – Practice a MAYDAY call, be familiarized DSC.
• Using electronic equipment properly – check your own equipment to make sure it is in proper working order and that you know how to properly use the equipment.

Module:  Rules of the Road

Module Time:  16 hours (Lecture/Quizzes – 10, Practical – 6)

Lesson Objectives: 

• The learner will understand and be able to discuss the Rules of the Road, realizing that their sole purpose is to prevent collisions at sea. Vessels operating on a body of water are subject to specific nautical traffic rules. There are two sets of rules that are mostly unified, International Rules and Inland Rules.  The learner will know the International and Inland Rules of the Road and where each would apply.
• The learner will understand the importance of assessing the possibility of a close quarters situation early and be able to prevent a collision.  The learner will be acutely aware of why they call the rules COLREGS (collision regulations).
• The learner will acquire the knowledge of restricted visibility signals both underway and not underway.  They will know how to insure the safe passage in restricted visibility.

Teaching Method:  Print material and audio lecture, diagrams, videos, quizzes

Teaching Materials:  Excerpts from “Rules of the Road” book

Teaching Aids:  Rhyme Sheet, Fog Signal Sheet

Practical Exercises:

• Practice using the pneumonic (rhyme) sheets
• Practice using the fog signal sheet
• Practice making signals using the on-line Rules of the Road book

Module:  Chart Plotting

Module Time:  11 hours (Lecture/Quizzes – 6 hours, Practical – 5 hours)

Lesson Objectives:  The learner will understand how to read a nautical chart, including finding latitude and longitude, chart symbols, depths, chart notes and chart information.

• The learner will know what information is found in the On Line Nautical Chart No. 1 publication.
• The learner will know how to line up two permanent objects, take the bearings, and calculate compass error. 
• Given the vessel’s compass heading and using the variation from the chart’s compass rose, the learner will be able calculate the vessel’s deviation.
• The learner will be able to plot a “triple fix”, lining up three permanent objects to plot the vessel’s location.
• The learner will know how to plot a course on a chart, using time, distance and speed formulas, and calculating the set and drift of a current.

Teaching Methods:  Print material and audio lecture, diagrams, videos, practical exercises, and quizzes

Teaching Materials:   Chart, Parallel Rulers and Dividers, Light Lists and Coast Pilots, Nautical Chart No. 1 (on-line), Calculator

Teaching Aids:  Formulas for time, distance and speed calculations, formula for calculating deviation

Practical Exercises: 

• Information found on a chart
• Plotting Latitude and Longitude, finding distances
• Using the on-line Nautical Chart Number 1
• Transferring lines using a compass rose
• Solving for deviation
• Triple Fix
• Adding and subtracting in military time (24 hour clock)
• Time, distance, speed calculations
• Dead Reckoning and Set and Drift
  

Final Review

Objective:  The learner will know how to prepare for the proctored final exam.