Professional Practices and Responsibilities
Professional Practices and Responsibilities
(PPR) - a compulsory online course for new
and revalidating RYA Commercial
Endorsement holders applicable from April
2012.
Who this course is for
Each year approximately 4,500 people apply to the RYA for a commercial endorsement in order to use their RYA qualifications professionally as skipper or crew. You could be doing anything from delivering a new 35’ yacht or driving a workboat with lifting and towing gear, to running a superyacht in the Med. Whatever your job is on board, in the commercial world you are a professional seafarer. As such, you are no different from the captain of a cruise liner – you have a duty of care to crew, passengers, and other water users, and you will be held to account if things go wrong.
The course is broken down into four modules:
- Commercial environment - showing how you fit into the professional maritime world.
- People – explaining the importance of correct manning, keeping your skills up to date and the safe management of commercial vessels. ·
- Vessel – teaching about the compulsory carriage and maintenance of safety equipment and how to create and implement risk control and operating procedures. ·
- Purpose – making sure your vessel is suitable and legal for the work you are carrying out, your obligations in protecting the environment, appropriate planning and situational awareness.
Following the modules there is a mock assesment so you can check you are ready before moving on to the final graded online assesment.
We estimate users will take around 6 to 8 hours to work through the four course modules. The graded end of course assesment is split into two sections, each with a maximum time limit of 1hour.
How to take the PPR course
The PPR course is run by RYA recognised training centres. Contact a training centre or visit their website for more details.
Find a PPR recognised Training Centre
Your training centre will provide access to an instructor who will be on hand to help if you have any queries during the online course.
You can take this course anytime prior to your Commercial Endorsement. When you pass, your PPR certificate will be vaild either for your first Commercial Endorsement application or your next renewal.
How much will the course cost?
The cost of the course is £37.20 including VAT. Payment will be taken online as you start the course.
Exemptions from this course
If you hold an MCA Certificate of Competence as Officer of the Watch, Master 200, Master 500 or above you do not need to take the PPR course. Please send a copy of your MCA certificate with your application or renewal form for your commercial endorsement.
Updating your PPR certificate
Once you have taken your first PPR course, at subsequent renewals of your commercial endorsement you will need to take a reduced version of the course and a short test to make sure you are still up to speed with the subject.
Note: If you are over 65 and subject to more regular medical fitness examinations, you do not need to take the PPR course each time you renew your medical. You will simply need to take it when your commerical endorsment is due for renewal (normally every five years).