my 4 weeks leave

[CaptainRob]

Been pretty busy here bouncing around offshore, off Mackay, but due off next Tuesday. But then heading straight down to Lakes Entrance for the 4 weeks to teach in the TAFE maritime college SEAMEC. I teach Master 4 which is the first 'ticket' the guys/gals can get which will allow them to step up onto the bigger more commercial ships. Its a pretty big step for them. a lot of them are fishermen, ferry drivers, some Customs patrol boat people, water cops, truck drivers - pretty much a mixed bag. Im the only instructor as you need a Master 1 to teach Master 4. Im not a professional teacher but ive got a Certificate 4 which is just enough. This is the 6th year i done the course for them and I have had 140 students and they have all passed. They are externally examined by govmint examiners, so no money has changed hands! Everywhere else in Australia this is a 12 week course but we do it in 4 weeks, so the pressure is on. But must of them are self employed and its a big consideration to do it quickly and not have a huge living away from home cost. They're always suspicious of me to start with ( I can see the look in their eyes!) but by the first Friday pub session they usually come around ('you're not such a bad arsehole after all' - is pretty common). Its a pretty rough session in 'class' as the language is a bit different to what you find in most TAFE's! It doesnt pay much but its a good experience, makes me feel good and cancels out all of the evil bad things I've done over the rest of the year! TAFE's are great - gotta suppport them. Taking my Busa down on a trailer as I have a lot of books and stuff, and then do some riding around on the weekends. (taking the Busa on a holiday!). Heres some pictures of the class room - pretty cool view, eh? It looks out into the actual (Lakes) entrance into Bass Strait. Good pubs and fresh 'flake' (shark) straight of the shark boats - doesnt get much better than that! Gotta eat more sharks - the more of them you eat, the less chance you've got of being eaten by one of them? The little tug in the background is hired by the school for the 'on water' stuff; gets a pretty good workout!

[Zoro]

Looks good Rob, doubt I'd feel like doing that after a 4 week swing though..

Usually just crash out and catch up on ZZ's when I get back.

What is taught in these classes, what are the modules?

[CaptainRob]

Looks good Rob, doubt I'd feel like doing that after a 4 week swing though..

Usually just crash out and catch up on ZZ's when I get back.

What is taught in these classes, what are the modules?

Chartwork, stability, celestial navigation, collision regs, electronic navigational aids, satellite communications, cargo work, ship control systems, ships security, ship handling, regulations, harmonious workplace (!!), meteorology and beer drinking. All the modules are add-ons to the Master 5 modules; you no longer have to do the same stuff over again.