RYA Courses
The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is a UK-based organisation mandated by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) to establish standards for boat safety and training for boats of less than 24m long. The RYA was established in 1875 and RYA courses are now being taught in at least 46 countries around the world. The Powerboat Scheme is typically recognised as the best small boat training programme in the world and IOMTC has been offering these courses since 2010.
RYA Powerboat Level 1
A great course for young people of 8-11 years to introduce them to boating in a safe and responsible way. The certificate allows them to drive a boat under adult supervision. (Please note that under the Merchant Shipping Small Vessels Safety Regulations, 2012 no person under 16 yr may be left in sole control of a pleasure craft, or under 18 yr of a commercial vessel.)
- Duration - 1 day
- Entry requirements - none
- Min. age - 8 yr
RYA Powerboat Level 2
This is a practical course covering all the skills required to drive a boat, and as with all RYA courses there is a strong emphasis on best marine practices and safety on the water.
- Duration - min. 2 days
- Entry requirements - none, other than a good grasp of English
- Min. age - 12 yr
RYA Intermediate Level
This course is a natural progression from the Level 2 course providing greater knowledge on what is required to make a short cruise by day. This course covers navigation in greater detail with more time spent in the classroom. There are practical elements to the course with some of the lessons from Level 2 repeated in open water.
- Duration - min. 2 days (depending on previous experience we may recommend a longer course duration)
- Entry requirements - All candidates must have successfully completed the RYA Powerboat Level 2 course and should have a good understanding of navigation to the Day Skipper Level.
- Min. age - 16 yr.
RYA Advanced Level
This course includes at least one night exercise covering the operation and practical navigation of a small craft at night. At night, especially in a busy harbour things can look very different and be rather confusing. This course is especially beneficial if you are likely to be going out at night or if there is a risk that you may get caught out after dark. This course leads directly on from the Intermediate Level.
- Duration - min. 2 days with 1 night exercise
- Entry requirements - RYA Intermediate Level and your navigation skills should be to the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Level. The Short Range Certificate for VHF communication and a valid First Aid Certificate are recommended but not compulsory.
- Min. age - 17 yr
Own Boat Tuition |
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If you would like to train using your own boat this can be arranged; it's always special to learn on the boat that you operate most of the time. The more you know about boating the more confidence you will have and consequently the more fun you will have. Your boat will need to meet certain minimum standards so please contact us to obtain a list of requirements.
We can teach the RYA Powerboat Level 2 course on your own boat but the RYA Intermediate and Advanced Powerboat courses must be taught on the training centre's boat Taru which has been approved by the RYA for this purpose. Both the Intermediate and Advanced courses must also be taught in the Port of Mombasa where there are sufficient aids to navigation.
We can also provide training at any location in Eastern Africa using a RYA Advanced Powerboat Instructor. To date we have experience from training on the Indian Ocean in not only Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania but also Comoro Islands, Madagascar and Mauritius, and inland on Lake Abaya (Ethiopia), Lake Edward (Democratic Republic of Congo), Lake Kivu (Rwanda), Lake Tanganyika (Burundi and Tanzania), Lake Turkana (Kenya), and Lake Victoria (Kenya and Uganda), and on the River Nile (South Sudan and Uganda).
We can teach the RYA Powerboat Level 2 course on your own boat but the RYA Intermediate and Advanced Powerboat courses must be taught on the training centre's boat Taru which has been approved by the RYA for this purpose. Both the Intermediate and Advanced courses must also be taught in the Port of Mombasa where there are sufficient aids to navigation.
We can also provide training at any location in Eastern Africa using a RYA Advanced Powerboat Instructor. To date we have experience from training on the Indian Ocean in not only Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania but also Comoro Islands, Madagascar and Mauritius, and inland on Lake Abaya (Ethiopia), Lake Edward (Democratic Republic of Congo), Lake Kivu (Rwanda), Lake Tanganyika (Burundi and Tanzania), Lake Turkana (Kenya), and Lake Victoria (Kenya and Uganda), and on the River Nile (South Sudan and Uganda).
Bespoke training courses
IOMTC can customise any training package to suit your organisation's needs at any location in East and Central Africa. It may be that your organisation does not require internationally certificated training but more specific training to cover the normal boat's operations. All RYA courses must be taught in English and are limited to a student to instructor ratio of 3:1. But, with custom courses we are able to teach up to five candidates in English, French, German, Italian or Kiswahili.
The RYA Intermediate and Advanced Powerboat courses must be taught in Mombasa on our own training boat "Taru", which has been approved by the RYA. These courses are marine based and are not applicable to inland waters. However, the African great lakes are like mini oceans that experience unique and sometimes extreme conditions such that boat operators should have skills beyond the RYA Powerboat Level 2 course with a course tailored to your particular lake environment.
All boat handling courses will be carried out by RYA Instructors and all training methods will be those approved by the RYA.
The RYA Intermediate and Advanced Powerboat courses must be taught in Mombasa on our own training boat "Taru", which has been approved by the RYA. These courses are marine based and are not applicable to inland waters. However, the African great lakes are like mini oceans that experience unique and sometimes extreme conditions such that boat operators should have skills beyond the RYA Powerboat Level 2 course with a course tailored to your particular lake environment.
All boat handling courses will be carried out by RYA Instructors and all training methods will be those approved by the RYA.
Coxswain Level III
As of 2018, Indian Ocean Maritime Training Centre has gained approval from Kenya Maritime Authority to conduct Coxswain Level III courses. This is issued under the Kenyan Merchant Shipping regulation 2016. Please note that for the foreseeable future we shall not be offering this course since we consider the requirement for 21 days to be excessive plus there is too much theory and irrelevant material. Kenya Maritime Authority have acknowledged that the syllabus requires reviewing and we hope the process will start in early 2025. Our chief instructor has been appointed to the KMA syllabus committee.
The Coxswain Level III course is run over 21 days (three weeks) and covers the following syllabus in a combination of theory and practical sessions:
On completion of the Coxswain Level III course, students are awarded a certificate of proficiency and will be permitted to operate on inshore or inland waters and up to a maximum of 5 nautical miles from the nearest point of land in open lake or sea. The holder will be limited to operating a vessel up to 12 meters in daylight conditions.
There are no entry requirements for the Coxswain Level III course, however the candidate must meet the minimum medical standards set out by Kenya Maritime Authority.
* Please note classes are limited to a maximum of 20 students per course.
As of 2018, Indian Ocean Maritime Training Centre has gained approval from Kenya Maritime Authority to conduct Coxswain Level III courses. This is issued under the Kenyan Merchant Shipping regulation 2016. Please note that for the foreseeable future we shall not be offering this course since we consider the requirement for 21 days to be excessive plus there is too much theory and irrelevant material. Kenya Maritime Authority have acknowledged that the syllabus requires reviewing and we hope the process will start in early 2025. Our chief instructor has been appointed to the KMA syllabus committee.
The Coxswain Level III course is run over 21 days (three weeks) and covers the following syllabus in a combination of theory and practical sessions:
- Basic boat safety (fire fighting, first aid, survival skills; workplace HSI and confined space);
- Protection of the marine environment;
- Seamanship (ropework, moorings, anchoring, boat maintenance, boat fittings, safe navigation);
- Basic marine engine technology (2 & 4 stroke engines, monitoring/diagnosis, steerings, bilge, electronics, refuelling);
- International and National rules and regulations;
- Responding to an emergency; and
- Vessel handling
On completion of the Coxswain Level III course, students are awarded a certificate of proficiency and will be permitted to operate on inshore or inland waters and up to a maximum of 5 nautical miles from the nearest point of land in open lake or sea. The holder will be limited to operating a vessel up to 12 meters in daylight conditions.
There are no entry requirements for the Coxswain Level III course, however the candidate must meet the minimum medical standards set out by Kenya Maritime Authority.
* Please note classes are limited to a maximum of 20 students per course.
