Boarding a Vessel at Sea

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3 hours

Course duration

26 Mar

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Course Overview

The Boarding a Vessel at Sea course at ERGT trains learners to safely board vessels at sea by developing the skills, awareness, and techniques needed to complete vessel transfers in open water conditions.

The Boarding a Vessel at Sea course equips learners with the knowledge and practical skills required to safely transfer onto vessels in open water environments. Delivered by ERGT Australia, this course supports maritime personnel who must undertake vessel boardings as part of inspection, compliance, operational, or logistical duties.

This training matters because safe boarding practices help reduce risk, support operational efficiency, and ensure that learners can carry out their duties confidently within marine and offshore environments. With no pre-requisites, learners gain valuable preparation in hazard awareness, risk mitigation, transfer techniques, and procedures that align with maritime operational expectations.

On successful demonstration of all the required performance criteria learners will be issued with a Certificate of Training and Assessment in:
Boarding a Vessel at Sea
Note: Learners whose employer does not require completion of the rope ladder component will instead be issued a Certificate of Attendance in: Boarding a Vessel at Sea.
This workshop covers the following topics:
Principles of safe vessel boarding operations.
Pre-operational planning and equipment checks
Hazard identification and situational awareness in open-water environments.
Safe transfer techniques and vessel approach considerations.
Communication protocols during boarding activities.

This course is delivered through a blend of:

Facilitator-led classroom sessions to introduce boarding principles, risk factors, and operational requirements.

Practical training using vessel transfer equipment and controlled marine-based scenarios.

Scenario-based exercises simulating real-world boarding conditions and communication challenges.

Performance-based assessments to confirm safe boarding skills and operational readiness.
The 3-hour Boarding a Vessel at Sea course at ERGT Australia is designed for learners who are required to conduct vessel transfers as part of their operational duties. This course is suited to learners working across government agencies, maritime authorities, offshore operations, and contracted service providers who regularly operate in dynamic, open-water conditions. It is designed to support both new and experienced personnel who need practical skills in hazard identification, situational awareness, and safe boarding procedures.

Learners must have basic Language, Literacy, Numeracy, and Digital (LLND) skills to understand safety procedures and complete assessments. Learners must be able to access and navigate a digital device to log in and access the course materials. Support for learners is available on request. More information is available on our website.

Note: Learners whose employer does not require completion of the rope ladder component will instead be issued a Certificate of Attendance in: Boarding a Vessel at Sea.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Plan a boarding operation by conducting pre-operational checks, identifying hazards, assessing risks, and preparing necessary equipment in line with organisational procedures.
Carry out a boarding operation by safely transferring to the vessel, maintaining situational awareness, and applying correct boarding techniques.
Complete post-boarding activities, including securing the boarding site, conducting debriefs, and completing necessary reporting and documentation as per operational requirements.

Prerequisites

Health & Fitness:

A medical certificate is not required for this course; however, a health questionnaire and declaration of fitness will be required at course registration. Please contact ERGT for any concerns regarding completion of practical training and assessment requirements

Government issued photo identification
Protective Clothing & Footwear – For courses with practical components, overalls/long pants and safety boots must be worn. If you don’t have your own, ERGT can provide these for you on the day.
Bathers and towel are required for in water activities.

What to expect

Free Parking at all ERGT facilities
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Any additional PPE required for your course will be supplied by ERGT on the day.
Lunch for Full-Day Courses – Lunch is provided. Please let us know at least 24 hours in advance if you have any allergies or specific dietary requirements.
Showers & Change Facilities
Alcohol, illicit drugs
Smoking outside the designated smoking area
Singlets, shorts, clothing displaying offensive slogans/images, open toed shoes, high heels