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 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.

The NMEA/BMEA training structure is as follows:

Marine Electronics Installer Course

• 31 October 2013 in Warwick

The Marine Electronics Installer Program (MEI), established in 2004, is to encourage a high level of professional expertise in entry-level and mid-level technicians and to lead them to further develop their skills.

An MEI certificate is an indication of a working knowledge of NMEA’s Installation Standard, which clarifies and defines competent installation practices. A Marine Electronics Installer has demonstrated this proficiency by passing an examination designed to measure understanding of those principles.

This is an introductory course in marine electronics installation which clarifies and defines competent installation practices. Topics include ground systems, electrical systems, equipment installation and data communications.

Benefits

• The key electronics manufacturers are supportive of this new agreement
• This is not just an exam, but training as well.
• BMEA have been key players in making sure that this training is internationally relevant.
• You can market your NMEA training to customers – old and new – as an indication of your professional expertise.

The price of the course is:

• BMF Members: £258.00 + VAT (£309.60)
• Non Members: £351.00 + VAT (£421.20)

This includes the price of the NMEA Installation Standard and an MEI licensing fee.

Please contact Liv Whetmore on (01784) 223631 or e-mail: lwhetmore@britishmarine.co.uk for further information.

 

New! ADVANCED Marine Electronics Installer Course

• 30 May 2013 in Poole

The Advanced Marine Electronics Installer Program (AMEI) is to encourage a high level of professional expertise in advanced technicians and to lead them to further develop their skills.

An AMEI certificate is an indication of an advanced working knowledge of NMEA’s Installation Standard, which clarifies and defines competent installation practices. An Advanced Marine Electronics Installer has demonstrated this proficiency by passing an examination designed to measure understanding of those principles.

This is an advanced course in marine electronics installation, which clarifies and defines competent installation practices. Topics include VHF & SSB Installations, Antenna Arrangement & Satellite Communications, Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) and EMI Causes & Mitigation.

The course covers:

• Computers & Ethernet Networking
• VHF & SSB Installations
• Antenna Arrangement & Satellite Communications
• Automatic Identification Systems (AIS)
• EMI Causes & Mitigation
• 50-Question Multi-choice Exam

Benefits

 The key electronics manufacturers are supportive of this training and qualification

• This is not just an exam, but training as well.
• BMEA have been key players in making sure that this training is internationally relevant.
• You can market your NMEA training to customers – old and new – as an indication of your professional expertise.

 The price of the course is:

•  BMF Members: £170.00 + VAT (£204)
• Non Members: £260.00 + VAT (£312)

 Please note: This course is only available to people who have already attended the standard Marine Electronics Course.

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

 

NMEA 2000 Workshop

WHEN IS IT?

No dates at the moment.

WHAT WILL BE INCLUDED?

This workshop covers the following:

NMEA 2000^®Characteristics:

• History
• Certification Levels
• Relationship to International Standards

Physical Layer:

• Cabling and Connectors
• Termination
• Power Supply
• Grounding the Network
• Network Size
• General Topology

Key Components of Network

Installation Issues:

• Network Planning
• Power Distribution

Certification of NMEA 2000 Products

How does Can Work

• CAN vs Ethernet

FEES:

BMF Members: £99.00 + VAT (£118.80)
Non-Members: £180.00 + VAT (£216.00)

For further information 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 Electrical Course

• 29 and 30 October 2013 in Warwick

The BMET Course is designed to give candidates a general overview of the knowledge and skills required for a BMEA-certified Marine Electrical Technician. It is assumed that all candidates will have at least 12-months relevant working experience within the industry and have access to the latest edition of the BMEA Code of Practice.

The course is split into 8 sections covering:

• Health & Safety
• AC & DC Circuits
• Circuit Diagrams & Standard Conventions
• Test & Measurement Equipment
• Generators & Motors
• Distribution Systems
• Batteries & Charging Systems
• Cables & Terminations.

All information and required knowledge deals mainly with UK systems and follows not only the BMEA Code of Practice and ISOs, but also the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD).

Fees:

BMF Members: £268 + VAT (£321.60)
Non Members: £433 + VAT (£519.60)

The above prices include the BMET Exam and Certification.

To reserve your places, please contact Liv Whetmore on 01784 223631 or lwhetmore@britishmarine.co.uk

 

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