Watchkeeping Mate Near Coastal (WKMNC)

Certificate Part-time School of Transportation

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Overview

The Watchkeeping Mate position is the second or third person in the line of command on a vessel depending on the area and the type of vessel the person is serving on. The person’s role is to safely monitor the ship’s passage, and the safety of its crew and cargo. While at sea, the Mate on watch has three fundamental responsibilities:

navigating the ship
safely avoiding traffic
responding to emergencies

While in port, the Mate focuses on duties such as:

cargo operations
fire and security watches
mooring and anchoring
responding to emergencies

The program

The Watchkeeping Mate Near Coastal program consists of modular based courses, offered throughout the year, to prepare students towards the Watchkeeping Mate Near Coastal Certificate of Competency.

The holder of this certificate may be employed as:

Officer in charge of the watch on board a vessel of any tonnage engaged on a near coastal voyage, class 1 and 2.
Chief Mate on board a vessel of not more than 3000 GT engaged on a near coastal voyage class 1 and 2.
Chief mate on board a vessel of any tonnage engaged on a sheltered-waters voyage.

Individuals wishing to obtain the STCW Watchkeeping Mate Certification will be required to complete one more course: NAUT 1826 – Astro Navigation 2. It is possible to take this course within the Watchkeeping Mate Near Coastal program.

Entrance Requirements

Application processing

This program is open to declarations beginning:

February 1st* for the January intake
May 1st* for the April intake
October 1st* for the September intake

*or next business day

Entrance requirements

Transport Canada Candidate Document Number (CDN)

Recommended for success

English 11 or English language proficiency
Math 11 (strongly recommended)
Physics 11 (strongly recommended)

Check for acceptable equivalents or upgrading courses taught at BCIT.

Apply to program

To apply to this program, please submit the Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) Program Declaration form [PDF].

Please allow approximately six to eight weeks for processing.

Scheduled Intakes

Ongoing Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) intakes: January, April, and September.

Costs & Supplies

Tuition fees

Please contact the BCIT Marine Campus Registration Office at 604-453-4111 for information on tuition fees, payments and refunds.

Books & supplies

For information on textbooks, please contact the BCIT Bookstore at 604-432-8379 or 877-333-8379 (toll-free within Canada).

Courses

Program matrix

Check current availability of courses for this program.

1. Required Courses:			Credits
	ENAV 1030	Electronic Positioning Systems This course provides students with the basic knowledge of the principles, application and limitations of modern electronic navigational aids. Prerequisite(s): Navigation Safety 1 (NS 1) and Chartwork and Pilotage 2 (C&P 2) course outline	6.0
	ENAV 1070	Simulated Electronic Navigation - Operational (SEN O)* This Simulated Electronic Navigation – Operational course complies with the requirements of the “Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention.” The training will bridge the gap between theory and practice by providing the student with the required skill set to apply the Collision Regulations, and the principles to be observed in keeping a safe navigational watch. The students will be taught position fixing and monitoring techniques in coastal passages. Basic principles of bridge resource management, leadership, and teamwork skills will be incorporated in the course to promote safety of life at sea, and protection of the marine environment. Prerequisite(s): Students must have successfully completed the following training courses and examinations prior to registering for the SEN-O training course: Electronic Positioning Systems (EPS) or Simulated Electronic Navigation 1A, Radio Operator’s Certificate (ROC-MC), Chartwork and Pilotage 2 (C&P2), Navigation Safety 1 (NS1). course outline	8.0
	ENAV 3105	Electronic Chart Display and Information System The purpose of this course is to provide students with knowledge, skills, and a thorough understanding of the ECDIS, in order to safely navigate vessels whose primary means of navigation is the ECDIS. This course covers the requirements of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers Convention (STCW1978), as amended by the 2010 Manila Amendments (STCW2010). The course content is as per Transport Canada’s TP 4958E and IMO model course 1.27. Students will be trained and assessed using ECDIS and other associated navigational equipment in a simulated environment. Students will perform exercises in setting-up the ECDIS display best-suited for the area of navigation, perform basic navigation functions in accordance with the Collision Regulations, create, check, and monitor routes, and take proper and effective action when dealing with equipment failures and malfunctions. Those planning to enter the course should be proficient in nautical chartwork, and be familiar with visual navigation and bridge watchkeeping duties, including the operation of the Radar and ARPA. Students should also be familiar with Windows-based personal computing operating systems, using keyboards, mice, and trackballs. Prerequisite(s):** Chartwork and Pilotage, Level 1 (C&P1) course outline	3.0
	NAUT 1805	Communications 1 This course guides participants on the use of International Code of Signals for coding and decoding messages and procedures to be applied for communication by visual signaling; on the use of Radio Aids to Marine Navigation for ascertaining facilities and services; and on extracting necessary information from the Annual Notices to Mariners. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites are required for this course. course outline	2.0
	NAUT 1809	Communications 2 This course covers communication by Morse code using flashing light or sound signals. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites are required for this course. course outline	1.0
	NAUT 1820	C&P 2 - Chartwork and Pilotage 2 This course provides students with the necessary skills and techniques to navigate in confined and open waters. A detailed knowledge and application of nautical publications required for coastal navigation and passage planning is included in this course. An emphasis on the importance of updating charts and nautical publications is also provided. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites are required for this course. course outline	12.0
	NAUT 1840	NS 1 - Navigation Safety 1 The course provides students with the fundamentals of keeping a safe navigational watch. Emphasis is given to International and Canadian Collision Regulations. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites are required for this course. course outline	3.5
	NAUT 1850	MET 1 - Meteorology 1 This course covers details on the development of maritime weather patterns and systems. The contents include atmosphere, atmospheric pressure, wind, cloud, precipitation, visibility, frontal systems, ocean currents, depressions and storms. Students will make weather observations from instruments, record and report on weather conditions. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites are required for this course. course outline	6.0
	NAUT 1864	SCS 4 - Ship Construction and Stability 4 This course combines knowledge of ship's principal structural members, strength, and the use of the ship's stability information booklet to calculate the vessel's stability condition in order to maintain seaworthiness. The course also includes knowledge and application of the computer software used to calculate stability and hull stresses (bending moments and shearing forces) on modern ships. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites are required for this course. course outline	18.0
	NAUT 1874	GSK 3 - General Ship Knowledge 3 This course includes the study of International and Canadian regulations for the prevention of pollution and protection of the marine environment by oil and other hazardous materials. Students will demonstrate their ability to use Canada’s Shipping Act and relevant regulations for safety of life and pollution prevention. Students will also acquire basic working knowledge of the Canadian Labour Code and Occupational Health and Safety Legislation. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites are required for this course. course outline	8.0
	NAUT 1877	CG2 - Cargo 2 This course covers Canadian and International regulations pertaining to the safe carriage of cargoes as transportation on vessels. The basic knowledge on the safe handling, stowage, and securing of cargoes, along with the associated equipments are also covered in this course. The types of cargoes covered are: Deck, Container, Bulk, Dangerous, Hazardous, and Harmful cargoes. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites are required for this course. course outline	8.0
	NAUT 1882	General Seamanship - Watchkeeping Mate Near Coastal This course is a tutorial course that reviews content required for an oral examination with Transport Canada Examiner. The main content that are reviewed are maintaining a safe navigational watch; lifesaving and distress signals; weather routeing; ship-handling under various weather conditions; manoeuvring characteristics; anchoring and mooring; IMO and IAMSAR; response to emergencies; search and rescue; seaworthiness; rigging, and other seamanship related topics. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites are required for this course. course outline	2.0
Prior to enrolling for the SEN-O course, students must have successfully completed the following training courses and examinations: Electronic Positioning Systems (EPS) or equivalent Radio Communication (ROC-MC) Chartwork and Pilotage, Level 2 (C&P2) or equivalent Navigation Safety, Level 1 (NS1) or equivalent *Prior to enrolling in ENAV 3105 - Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS), students must complete the following courses: ENAV 1000 - Simulated Electronic Navigation 1 Part A (SEN 1A) or ENAV 1030 - Electronic Positioning Systems (EPS) NAUT 1820 - Chartwork and Pilotage 2 (C&P 2)

2. Students requiring an upgrade to the STCW Watchkeeping Mate certification must complete the following course:			Credits
	NAUT 1826	Astro Navigation 2* This course provides students with a means to navigate a vessel by terrestrial and celestial methods. The course contents include shape of the earth and the graticule system; plane sailing; parallel sailing; Mercator and great circle sailing; determining a vessel's position by using celestial bodies; and theory and practice of sextant. It is strongly recommended that students should review algebraic and trigonometric functions prior to taking this course. Prerequisite(s):** No prerequisites are required for this course. course outline	20.0
***This additional course will be offered to students upgrading their certification to an STCW Watchkeeping Mate level.

Total Credits:			77.5

Check current availability of courses for this program.

Transfer credit

Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.

Program Details

Program length

There are 12 courses that make up the 38-week program. These courses are offered on a course-by-course basis and are not offered as a full-time program.

Program delivery

In person: This program is delivered on campus.

These modular based courses are available on a course-by-course basis and are not offered as a full-time program. Courses are offered in a daytime delivery format.

Course availability varies and courses may be offered in one or more of the three terms: Fall (September - December), Winter (January - March), and Spring/Summer (April - August).

Please contact the BCIT Marine Campus Registration Office at 604-453-4111 for further information on the individual courses.

Check available Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) courses

Continue your education

A Watchkeeping Mate Near Coastal (WKMNC) certification from Transport Canada requires the following additional courses:

Standards Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Basic Safety (BST)
Proficiency in Survival Craft (PSC)
Marine Advanced First Aid (MAFA)
Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF)
Global Maritime Distress Safety System Restricted Operator Certification Maritime Commercial (ROC MC)

Basic Safety, Proficiency in Survival Craft and the Marine Advanced First Aid courses must be completed prior to registering in the Advanced Fire Fighting course.

For more information about specific progressive occupational licensing, please contact the Chief Instructor.

Sea service requirements

According to the Marine Personnel Regulations SOR/2007-115, sea service requirements are not a prerequisite for being accepted into the program. However, sea service will be required for the General Seamanship oral examination with Transport Canada. For sea service details please refer to section 134 of the Marine Personnel Regulations, inquire at your nearest Transport Canada Marine Safety office, or visit Transport Canada - Marine Transportation.

Graduating & Jobs

Apply for graduation

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, complete an Application for BCIT Credential [PDF] and submit it to Student Information and Enrolment Services.

Allow approximately six to eight weeks for processing.

All financial obligations to the Institute must be met prior to issuance of any credential.

Contact Us

BCIT Student Information & Enrollment Services
604-434-1610

Department Head:
Agnelo Pereira at 604-453-4117

Questions or comments?

Programs and courses are subject to change without notice.