Maritime course launches at Bermuda College as Boating Season Approaches
With Bermuda’s boating season fast approaching and interest in buying and using boats rising ahead of summer, Bermuda College is launching a key maritime training programme designed to improve boating safety and confidence on local waters.
The Seamanship and Inshore Navigation course begins in February and is the first of three maritime courses offered by the College throughout the year.
It is aimed at novice boaters, first-time boat owners, and those considering purchasing a boat, providing essential skills for safe and responsible boating in Bermuda.
Running over ten weeks, the course introduces participants to the fundamentals of seamanship and boat handling, including maritime laws, rules of the road, navigation markers, and safety requirements.
Students also learn how to manoeuvre and dock vessels, understand Bermuda’s extensive system of maritime lights, interpret weather conditions, and use VHF radio and emergency procedures correctly.
The course focuses on inshore navigation, covering the waters inside Bermuda’s reef line where most recreational boating takes place.
Unlike driving a car, there is no mandatory licensing test for recreational boaters in Bermuda, meaning individuals can legally operate a vessel without formal training.
“Many people don’t realise how much responsibility comes with being in charge of a boat,” said Major Jeffrey Patterson, Maritime Course Instructor at Bermuda College and an officer with the Bermuda Coast Guard.
“There are no road markings on the water, and conditions can change quickly. This course helps people understand their own capabilities, their boat’s limitations, and how to operate safely in Bermuda’s marine environment.”
The importance of maritime training is reinforced by real rescue operations regularly attended by the Coast Guard.
In one incident, a family boat sank in deteriorating weather conditions. The parents, who were not wearing life jackets, were clinging to the vessel, while their two children, wearing life jackets, were swept toward nearby cliffs. Two rescue boats were required to save all four individuals.
“Basic knowledge such as checking the weather forecast, carrying the correct safety equipment, and understanding what a boat can handle can prevent situations like this,” Major Patterson said.
In addition to the spring seamanship course, Bermuda College offers an Engine Driver’s Course during the summer, focusing on mechanical and electrical systems, and a Chart to Electronic Navigation course in the fall, which teaches traditional chart navigation alongside GPS and electronic systems.
Major Patterson added: “As Bermudians prepare for summer boating, the February maritime course provides timely, practical training that can help prevent accidents and save lives on the water.”
For more information on the course, which starts on February 16 to April 6, on Mondays from 6pm to 9pm. Email