EFFECTIVE: July 2016
IMPORTANT : PLEASE READ THE WHOLE DOCUMENT CAREFULLY
CATEGORY C SKIPPERS COURSE INFORMATION:
1. This course consists of three major components:

Theory Course (approximately 15hours)

Practical skippering of 50 hours (experiential training)

Exam (consisting of a theory exam, practical exam and an oral exam).
2. Most people come on this course already having skippered a vessel for the necessary 50 hours
(if you want to complete your practical experience under our guidance please contact us to
discuss the costs and additional time needed).
3. If you only want to complete the theory course at this stage i.e. you don’t have the necessary 25
hours skippering experience; this is acceptable, but you will not be eligible to write your exam
until such time as you have completed your 50 hours experience with you skippering a vessel
(many people decide on this option as a way of getting theoretical experience before starting
to get their skippers practical hours). You only have 1 calendar month from the date of the
Theory exam to the date of the Practical exam to complete both sections.
4. We also offer a pre exam practical check to ensure that you have the necessary skills to pass
your practical and oral exams. We evaluate your practical abilities according to a pre-defined
list and give you feed back as to where you are strong, weak or unskilled.
5. Surf Launch and Dive Boat Skipper endorsements are available. If you are launching out of the
Kowie River Mouth you will be required to have a surf launch endorsement on your skippers
licence. The requirements for these endorsements can be found at the end of this document.
6. Please note that prices are accurate at the time of us sending you this mail, but our
prices are subject to change at any time. If SAMSA fees should increase before your
paperwork is submitted, you will be liable for the additional costs.
THEORY COURSE
1. Lectures are approximately 15 hours (differs from group to group)
2. Please bring your skippers manual with you (we will arrange for this to be sent to you in
advance or you can come in person to collect).
3. Please bring a pen, pencil, eraser, calculator and scrap paper
EXAMINATION PROCESS
Theory Exam and Practical Exam
1. Exams will be scheduled for the 2nd afternoon to allow some practice time on navigation.
Homestudy is recommended to take some of the pressure off you during the evening and to
allow practice time for navigation.
2. Separate exam dates can be requested, but these dates and times are structured as to the
availability of the examiner and will incur an additional penalty fee of R 150-00 per person.
THEORY AND EXAM COSTS
1. A deposit of R 500-00 per person is required to confirm your place on the course (this deposit
is non refundable and may not be carried forward to another course).
2. When you arrive to complete your course you will be required to pay the remaining balance.
1. You will only be allowed to write your exam if you have given in all of the required
paperwork as listed below:
a.
2 x ID Photo’s
b.
Copy of your ID book or passport
c.
Letter from a doctor stating you are fit to skipper a boat
d.
Letter from a certified skipper stating that you have 50 hours skippering experience
under their guidance. Their ID number must appear in this letter or you must attach a
copy of their skippers licence.
e.
Surf launch and dive boat skipper endorsements. Please look at the end of this document
for the requirements and paperwork for these endorsements.
f.
Please Note: You will not receive your Interim Skippers Certificate unless all your
paperwork has been submitted to us.
FAILED EXAMS
Failure of any portion of the exam constitutes a fail.
1. Repeat any portion of the exam
(Within 15 days of the failed exam)
R 350-00 per person
Conditions apply
2. Repeat any portion of the exam
(After 15 days of the failed exam)
R 750-00 per person
Conditions apply
ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT WE OFFER TO HELP YOU PASS YOUR EXAM
1. Pre exam practical check (±1 hour)
R 200-00 your boat
R 800-00 our boat
2. Renting our boat for your prac exam
R 600-00 (8m Semi Rigid Inflatable)
Please Note: we reserve the right to refuse rental of the boat at any time. This boat is not available
for surf launch endorsements.
3. Repeat the theory course
R 600-00
(Conditions apply)
Please note that prices are accurate at the time of us sending you this mail, but our prices are
subject to change at any time. If SAMSA fees should increase before your paperwork is submitted,
you will be liable for the additional costs.
ENDORSEMENTS YOU MAY ADD TO YOUR SKIPPERS LICENCE
Surf Launching Endorsement (SAMSA requirements):
1. The standard national certificate is only intended to cover vessels operating from a port,
fishing harbour or protected launch site and certainly does not certify that the holder is
competent to tackle the high energy surf and river launches experienced on the south and
eastern coastlines of South Africa.
2. The purpose of this endorsement is to indicate which skippers have demonstrated their
proficiency in this particular and necessary skill.
3. There is a huge difference in the skill required to launch a personal water craft (Jet Ski)
through the surf, compared to a 9 metre semi rigid vessel. For this reason, it is imperative that
the endorsement be carefully worded when issued, to reflect the type of experience the
candidate has with regards to surf launching.
4. You have to provide a letter from a qualified surf launch skipper, stating that you have
completed 12 surf launches on 4 different days in differing surf conditions. (This skipper must
have a surf launch endorsement on their skippers licence)
5. During your practical exam you are required to demonstrate to the examiner that you are
competent to launch through the surf. This practical demonstration will need to be completed
on the size vessel that you would like reflected on your licence.
6. Please note that if you are doing the surf launch endorsement in the Kowie River Mouth and
the river mouth is flat on the day of your licence there is no ways that the examiner can “make
an exception” and give you your surf launch endorsement. To overcome this problem some of
our examiners may be available at a time different to the stated exam time in the days prior to
or after your course to take advantage of the surf conditions. Please contact the office to
discuss different options.
Commercial Dive Skipper Endormement (SAMSA requirements):
1. This is a specific and additional endorsement which can be added separately to any national
certificates.
2. All skippers operating a commercial diving or dive charter vessel are required to have this
endorsement added to their Small Vessel Certificate of Competence before SAMSA considers
the vessel to be properly and safely manned.
3. Candidates or skippers who hold a dive leadership qualification may have the endorsement
added to their skipper certification by the Registrar of Seafarers without undergoing any
examination.
4. If a candidate doesn’t have a diving leadership qualification he or she has to complete an exam
for the dive boat skipper endorsement. To be eligible for the exam he or she has to provide
proof of the following:

Open Water Diver qualification with any recognised agency

Proof of skippering a dive vessel engaged in diving for at least 10 hours