Chieftain Training

RYA & STCW Courses – Sail, Power, Super-Yacht & Workboat

MCA HELM O (Operational)

Home » MCA HELM O (Operational)
Helm Operational
Helm O

MCA HELM O HUMAN ELEMENT LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT (OPERATIONAL LEVEL) OVERVIEW

The MCA “HELM O” course is not about “helming” a vessel.

HELM stands for Human Element, Leadership and Management – a mandatory MCA-approved course for seafarers applying for certain Certificates of Competence (CoCs).The MCA HELM O course is for Seafarers applying for an MCA Certificate of Competence.

WHO NEEDS STCW HELM O?

The HELM Operational-level certificate is required when applying for any of the following MCA CoCs (Certificates of Competence).

MCA M493 explains why HELM O and M were brought in

COURSE DURATION:

3 Days – The HELM O course is often scheduled back to back with GMDSS ROC and GOC courses, as many candidates require both!

WHERE IS THE HELM O COURSE RUN?

The STCW HELM Operational Course is run from;

MCA HELM O COURSE PRE REQUISITES:

  • Minimum age 18
  • Seatime as required by the MCA for your chosen route/pathway (see relevant M notice). For cadets this typically means at last one sea phase. For yachts this typically means Yachtmaster Offshore CoC or Yacht Rating.

MCA HELM O CONTENT:

A hands-on practical training approach is taken to deliver this course in which lectures, videos, group discussion and scenario based exercises combine with student presentations that form a compulsory part of training and final assessment. During the course you will address: 

  • The Human Element in the Maritime IndustrySituation and risk assessment: understand the importance of the Human element in the maritime industry
  • Communictaions and teamwork in a maritime organisation: identify the importance of teamworking and good communication in a maritime setting; Become aware of the barriers, enabling factors and effective communication skills for good teamworking
  • Performance Influencing Factors: identify what Performance Influencing Factors (PIFs) are, understand the impact of the human element on PIFs and know how to mitigate risks that arise from the human element.
  • Situational Awareness: know how to maintain situational awareness. Demonstrate the ability to analyse a situation as well as to evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of a proposed intervention
  • Making Decisions & Risk Management: the theoretical process of decision making, the influence of perceptual bias on decision making, and applying this knowledge to your own decision making
  • Creating a culture of saftey in a maritime organisation: identify the characteristics of generative safety culture within a maritime organisation and apply this to your work. Describe techniques and strategies to motivate co-workers to perform safely, identify risks to safety, and know how and when to use appropriate challenges when faced with safety risks.
Super Yacht
OOW on the bridge
Engineering Officer Y3 or Y4
Management & Leadership

INCLUDED

  • Three days of shorebased training
  • Course handbook
  • MCA Approved HELM (Operational) Certificate
  • Tea & Coffee
  • Free Parking (at the Hamble training centre)

NOT INCLUDED

  • Meals & Accommodation