Open Awards
Level 2
QN: 610/5501/3
Curriculum Active
Open Awards Level 2 Certificate in Maritime Studies: Able Seafarer (Deck) (RQF)
Official qualification regulated by Ofqual, awarded by Open Awards. Classified as a Occupational Qualification. Total guided learning hours: 188 hours.
Qualification Level
Level 2
Awarding Body
Open Awards
Syllabus Units
5 Units
Guided Hours
188 hrs
Instant access to interactive lessons, quizzes, and spaced revision.
Course Syllabus & Study Modules
Complete breakdown of verified curriculum topics and learning objectives.
1
Control Operation of Survival Craft and Rescue Boats
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Be able to prepare survival craft and rescue boats for use 1.
- Direct preparation of craft for launching to operational requirements 1.
- Supervise safe boarding of craft 1.
- Ensure propulsion is available2.
- Be able to launch survival craft and rescue boats 2.
- Direct launching craft within equipment limitations 2.
- Demonstrate clear and concise communications to personnel throughout craft operations3.
- Be able to take initial actions on leaving a vessel 3.
- Ensure the craft clears the vessel safely 3.
- Supervise initial actions on leaving the vessel to minimise threat to personnel4.
- Be able to maintain survival actions in a survival craft 4.
- Manoeuvre the craft in the correct seamanlike manner 4.
- Maintain propulsion 4.
- Supervise of safe transfer of personnel 4.
- Identify casualties amongst personnel 4.
- Treat casualties amongst personnel 4.
- Apply survival management appropriate to prevailing circumstances and conditions 4.
- Demonstrate prompt response to unforeseen circumstances5.
- Be able to recover survival craft and rescue boats 5.
- Direct safe recovery of craft6.
2
Maritime Sector Overview
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Learning Outcome (The Learner will): Assessment Criterion (The Learner can):1.
- Know the components of the maritime sector and their relative economic importance 1.1 List the component sub-sectors of the Maritime sector
- Commercial fishing
- Commercial yachting
- Equipment manufacture
- Inland waterways
- Leisure boating
- Maritime education
- Maritime financial and legal services
- Marine science and research
- Merchant Navy
- Ship and boat building
- Ship and boat management
- Surveying 1.2 Identify the relative economic importance to the UK economy of the 5 major sectors2.
- Know key career pathways within the maritime sector 2.1 List key roles and entry requirements within
- Royal Navy 2.2 Identify key sources of industry and careers information
- British Marine Federation
- Maritime and Coastguard Agency
- Maritime Skills Alliance
- Merchant Navy Training Board
3
Securing a Vessel for Passage
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Know how to maintain a vessel’s weather and watertight integrity 1.
- Describe what is meant by weather and watertightness and how it is maintained within the vessel’s structure 1.
- Describe the methods of ensuring weather and watertightness with regard to openings above and below the waterline, including shell openings 1.
- Identify faults and failures that might compromise weather and watertight integrity and describe associated reporting arrangements 1.
- Describe how and when to take soundings of tanks, bilges, cofferdams, void spaces and chainlocker 1.
- Describe how to check for damage to hatches, tank lids, doors, air and sounding pipes 1.
- Identify typical damage following collision, grounding and contact with solid structures2.
- Know how to secure stores, moveable items and cargo for passage 2.
- Identify the signage for hazardous items on board, including safe stowage and emergency procedures, from industry guidelines e.g. IMDG, COSHH etc 2.
- Describe how to make checks on lashings and securing devices for deck cargo and deck equipment, equipment in store rooms, holds, cargo spaces, steering and engine room spaces 2.
- Describe additional precautions needed during heavy weather, including the purpose of restricting access to the weather deck
4
Vessel Construction and Stability
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Know the main construction features of different vessel types 1.
- Name the main construction features of vessels 1.
- Identify different hull forms and the reasons for them 1.
- Identify common steering and propulsion types including sail and podded drives2.
- Understand vessel stability and flotation 2.
- Define the common stability terms 2.
- Describe the factors that affect a vessel's ability to stay afloat 2.
- Identify and read assigned loadline markings 2.
- Describe the effect of movement on vessel stability 2.
- Describe the factors that adversely affect vessel stability 2.
- State the existence and purpose of on-board vessel stability information
5
Vessel Ropework, Anchoring and Mooring Operations
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the importance of rope
- work and demonstrate the use of a range of ropes and wires on board a vessel 1.
- Describe the characteristics, safe handling
- use and care of different ropes and wires, including natural fibre rope, man made rope, wire rope and combination rope 1.
- Produce knots, bends and hitches in common use e.g. reef knot, bowline, sheet bend (double and single), rolling hitch, round turn and two half hitches, and identify the use of each 1.
- Demonstrate seizing, whipping and splicing wire and rope and identify the use of each 1.
- Demonstrate the safe use of bosun’s chairs and stages 1.
- use and care of blocks, tackles, hooks and shackles 1.
- Describe the rigging of safety lines2.
- Know how to safely assist in anchoring operations 2.
- Describe the types of anchor in common use, anchor parts, windlass and associated equipment, and anchoring terminology 2.
- Demonstrate safe anchoring procedures, including the use of personal protective equipment 2.
- Describe emergency procedures, e.g. slipping the bitter end, hanging off an anchor3.
- Know how to safely assist in mooring operations 3.
- Describe mooring terminology and equipment 3.
- Describe safe mooring procedures 3.
- Describe alternative mooring arrangements e.g. mooring to buoys, single point moorings, mooring alongside other vessels, slip wires, warping along a quay 3.
- Identify communication methods in common use 3.
- Describe ancillary mooring operations, including tugs, workboats, fire wires, fenders4.
- Know how to provide and maintain safe access to vessels 4.
Regulatory & Verification Details
- Qualification Number (QN)
- 610/5501/3
- Regulated Status
- Available to learners
- Awarding Body
- Open Awards
- Qualification Type
- Occupational Qualification
- Operational Start
- May 2025