BMEA

BMEA Training and Qualifications update

The BMEA (British Marine Electronics Association) is committed to ensuring that the quality and expertise of our members is appreciated by customers and boat-builders. An important part of this is to establish training and qualifications that allows the development of engineers and to recognise their achievements. The change to the association bye-laws last year means that all relevant organisations will need to have at least one qualified member of staff by January 2011 to retain their membership. The committee is also acutely aware that if the Association doesn’t get standards and qualifications in place itself, they may be forced upon us by some external body. The potential costs of this and the lack or relevance are a real threat.

So where are we?
The current BMET qualification scheme has a combined electronics and electrical syllabus. We have decided to split the two disciplines.

Electronics
The BMEA have signed a partnership arrangement with the NMEA (our counterpart in the USA) that will allow us to utilise their training and qualification program, which has been a very successful program with more than 1000 trained in the U.S. This concept and materials have been adapted to suit the UK market. and -In May this year we held our first training and examination event which received excellent feedback.

The NMEA/BMEA training structure is as follows:

MEI (marine electronics installer). To gain this qualification a technician would:

• Normally need a minimum of one years experience in the industry
• This course is a general overview of the basic topics for the installer
• Would have to have their own copy of the NMEA CMET Installation Standard (which also acts as training notes and material for the exam)
• Attend the MEI training seminar (usually a 1 day course with the exam at the end)
• Take and pass the MEI examination.
• Would receive diploma of passing the course

The new dates for the popular ‘Marine Electronics Installer’ course:

• 29 February 2012  – Southampton

BMF Members – £235 + VAT
Non-Members – £310 + VAT

The price includes the NMEA Standard and Licence Fee.

The MEI course in Scotland are subsidised by Scottish Enterprise Skills, so is offered at a reduced price of £108 inc VAT.

AMEI (advanced marine electronics installer). To gain this qualification a technician would:

• Hold an MEI qualification
• Normally need a minimum of three years experience in the industry
• Would have to have their own copy of the NMEA CMET Installation Standard (which also acts as training notes and material for the exam)
• This course is more technical in nature and dives into the most relevant concepts of the day
• Attend the AMEI training seminar (usually a 1 day course with the exam at the end)
• Take and pass the AMEI examination.
• Would receive diploma of passing the course

CMET (certified marine electronics technician). To gain this qualification a technician would:

• Hold an MEI and AMEI qualification
• Normally need a minimum of five years experience in the industry
• Would have to have their own copy of the NMEA CMET Installation Standard (which also acts as training notes and material for the exam) and other materials that are under construction
• This is the highest level of skill and most technical in nature
• Take and pass the CMET examination.
• Would receive certificate of passing the course

NMEA 2000 Course: To gain this qualification a technician would:

• Normally need a minimum of one years experience in the industry
• This course is a technical course for the general understanding of NMEA 2000 and the proper installation of an NMEA 2000 network
• Would have to have their own copy of the NMEA Installation Standard (which also acts as training notes and material for the exam) and would receive additional materials on NMEA 2000
• Attend the NMEA2000 training seminar (usually a 1 day course with the exam at the end)
• Take and pass the NMEA 2000 examination.
• Would receive diploma of passing the course

We have a new date for the NMEA 2000 workshop – 

• 7 December – Egham. 

The workshop runs from 11:00 – 16:00  

Fees:

BMF Members – £99.00 + VAT (£118.80)

Non-Members – £175.00 + VAT (£210.00)

For further information or to book on the workshop, please contact Liv Whetmore  on (01784) 223631 or e-mail:  lwhetmore@britishmarine.co.uk.

Electrical
The BMEA has refined the existing BMET qualification syllabus to reflect that the BMET will now be electrical only. The requirement for the completion of practical tasks has also been removed.

The BMET structure is as follows:

BMET (British Marine Electrical Technician). To gain this qualification a technician would:

• Normally need a years experience in the industry
• Would have to have a copy of the BMEA Code of Practice within their organisation and access to it. Their own copy would be a significant advantage. The Code of Practice summarises the requirements of the ISOs that form the legal requirements of the RCD.
• Take and pass the BMET examination. The examination tests the knowledge of the Code of Practice and the ISOs along with general ‘Best Practice’ knowledge.

Dates for the next British Marine Electrical Technician exams have been arranged.  If you are interested in any of these dates please contact Liv Whetmore, Training Administrator, British Marine Federation on 01784 223631.

• 26 – 27  January 2012 – Norwith
• 1-2  March 2012 – Southampton

BMF Members – £250 + VAT
Non-Members – £400 + VAT

This course includes the BMET exam on Day 2.  The exam can be booked without doing the course, the price is £50 + VAT .

The  BMET course in Scotland are subsidised by Scottish Enterprise Skills, so is offered at a reduced price of £60 inc. VAT.

Future Plans:

BMET Advanced (British Marine Electrical Technician – Advanced). To gain this qualification a technician would:
• Hold the BMET qualification
• This qualification would cover a deeper understanding of the Code , knowledge from outside the Code and fault finding.

Training dates and booking information can be found at http://www.britishmarine.co.uk/what_we_do/training.aspx or ring  the BMF on 01784 473377