RYA Powerboat Tender Operator Course

Professional training on Rib & Zodiac

RYA Powerboat Tender Operator Course for Super-yacht Crew & Expedition Staff

Prepare for professional tender operations in the super-yacht and expedition industry with the RYA Powerboat Tender Operator Course.
This advanced training program is designed for super-yacht crew, expedition staff, and professional tender operators who need the skills and confidence to safely operate powerboats and Zodiacs in demanding environments.

The course focuses on safety management, guest ship-to-shore transfers, and advanced boat handling required for professional tender operations.
Training includes beach landings, towing, anchoring, simulated MOB, day and night navigation using chart plotters and handheld GPS, simulated ice navigation, and route-finding in restricted environments.

By the end of the course, you will have the knowledge, situational awareness, and practical skills needed to operate tenders safely and professionally to the highest industry standards.

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RYA Powerboat Tender Operator Course for Rib and Zodiac

The RYA Tender Operator Course runs for two days, including a night exercise on the first evening to practice nighttime operations.
The course builds directly on the skills learned in RYA Powerboat Level 2, focusing on professional tender operations such as guest transfers, passenger safety, and day and night navigation.
The course content covers:

  • Berthing and close-quarters manoeuvres
  • Safe ship-to-shore transfers
  • Safe passenger (dis)embarkation from the ship or shore
  • Beach landings, towing, and anchoring
  • Man-overboard (MOB) procedures day and night.
  • Night navigation exercises using chart plotters and handheld gps.
  • Simulated (ice) navigation and route-finding in restricted environments
  • Basic chartwork and passage planning. Paper and digital.
  • Passenger safety, including providing safety briefing, comfort, and communication
  • Guest handling in luxury and expedition settings
  • Emergency and distress management

Extensive practical sessions ensure students develop strong real-world skills in varied operating conditions.

Prerequisites

  • RYA Powerboat Level 2 certificate (or equivalent competence)
  • Minimum age: 17 years
  • Good basic boat handling skills

Strongly Recommended

  • First Aid certificate
  • VHF Marine Radio / SRC licence

WHY CHOOSE FOR RIB SCHOOL SCHEVENINGEN?

  • More than 20 years of experience in maritime training.
  • We provide training for government professionals, deckhands, expedition staff, offshore crew, and expats.
  • Out of more than 300 reviews our score is 9.8
  • We are in the near proximity of the North Sea. An exciting and challenging place to navigate.
  • Outside the port we do not have restricted areas with speed limits.
  • The port is great for all maneuvering exercises with various types of vessels and sailing yachts.
  • Our office is located at only 50 meters from our boats, which is convenient and efficient
  • The Rib training and night navigation is held on our 8.5m Rib with 300 HP
  • The Zodiac training is held on our Zodiac Milpro MK 5 HD
  • Our instructors work on board ships, bringing real-world experience and a genuine understanding of onboard operations.
  • During the training everyone will be provided with all the necessary gear from Helly Hansen.
  • During the day it is free parking, just in front of the entrance of our office!
  • Scheveningen is a popular destination for water sports, restaurants and beach life, with a big variety of hotel accommodation.

Costs RYA Powerboat Tender Operator Course

The costs for the RYA Powerboat Tender Operator Course (2 days and a night nightsession) are € 950, – p.p.

This course fee includes:

  • Professional instruction by experienced instructors who understand the realities of working on board ships
  • Lunch, coffee, and tea during the training days
  • Use of professional maritime clothing from Helly Hansen and rubber boots.
  • Use of training vessels and safety equipment of Rib Tornado and Zodiac Milpro MK5
  • Certification upon successful completion

What is not included:

  • Dinner before the night navigation exercise
  • Accommodation
  • Travel expenses to and from the training location

Program RYA Tender Operator course

Day 1- Morning

Arrival, Registration & Introduction:
Life jackets, Safety equipment, kill cord, Safety line, weather assessments

Theory Session + Practical Classroom Exercises:
Navigation Fundamentals (Paper Charts) and Electronic Navigation (Digital Charts)

Practical Session: Daytime On-Water Boat Handling:
Pre-departure safety checks, Safe embarkation and disembarkation,Close-quarters manoeuvring, Speed control and trim

Lunch in class room

Day 1 - Afternoon

Practical Session Advanced Daytime Pilotage & Navigation:
Leaving and coming alongside pontoons, bow-on approach, route navigation using paper and digital charts , Multi-point fixes and bearings, awareness of wind, tide, swell, and wash, Simulated MOB.

Debrief of Day 1

Day 1 - Evening/night

Practical Session Night Navigation & Pilotage Introduction:
Navigation lights and buoyage at night, Passage planning for night operations using digital and paper charts, Fixing position using bearings, Use of leading lights and lit marks, MOB awareness discussion (simulated)

Day 2 - Morning

Debriefing of Night Navigation.

Theory Session Advanced Navigation and manage passengers:
Advanced use of digital charts and AIS, Passenger Safety, comfort, and dealing with challenging passengers, Launching/crane operations in theory.

Practical Session Advanced On-Water Boat Handling:
Repeating of manoeuvring, Driving on to dry dock / Ice floe.

Lunch in class room

Day 2 - Afternoon

Practical Session:
Towing, Beach landings, safely (dis) embarking passengers, anchoring, basic rope handling

Debrief & Close:
Review of key learning points, Individual feedback­, Course completion discussion

What to bring with you:

  • Valid identity card
  • Passport-sized photograph
  • Clothing for cold weather: extra thermals, hat, gloves
  • Clothing for warm weather: cap, sunglasses, sunscreen

What do we provide:

  • Lunch, coffee, and tea during the training days
  • Use of professional maritime clothing from Helly Hansen, rubber boots and a life jacket.

Book now

Street address, postal code, city, country
Please feel free to suggest dates that suit you.
General

RYA Powerboat Tender Operator Course for Rib and Zodiac

The RYA Tender Operator Course runs for two days, including a night exercise on the first evening to practice nighttime operations.
The course builds directly on the skills learned in RYA Powerboat Level 2, focusing on professional tender operations such as guest transfers, passenger safety, and day and night navigation.
The course content covers:

  • Berthing and close-quarters manoeuvres
  • Safe ship-to-shore transfers
  • Safe passenger (dis)embarkation from the ship or shore
  • Beach landings, towing, and anchoring
  • Man-overboard (MOB) procedures day and night.
  • Night navigation exercises using chart plotters and handheld gps.
  • Simulated (ice) navigation and route-finding in restricted environments
  • Basic chartwork and passage planning. Paper and digital.
  • Passenger safety, including providing safety briefing, comfort, and communication
  • Guest handling in luxury and expedition settings
  • Emergency and distress management

Extensive practical sessions ensure students develop strong real-world skills in varied operating conditions.

Prerequisites

  • RYA Powerboat Level 2 certificate (or equivalent competence)
  • Minimum age: 17 years
  • Good basic boat handling skills

Strongly Recommended

  • First Aid certificate
  • VHF Marine Radio / SRC licence

WHY CHOOSE FOR RIB SCHOOL SCHEVENINGEN?

  • More than 20 years of experience in maritime training.
  • We provide training for government professionals, deckhands, expedition staff, offshore crew, and expats.
  • Out of more than 300 reviews our score is 9.8
  • We are in the near proximity of the North Sea. An exciting and challenging place to navigate.
  • Outside the port we do not have restricted areas with speed limits.
  • The port is great for all maneuvering exercises with various types of vessels and sailing yachts.
  • Our office is located at only 50 meters from our boats, which is convenient and efficient
  • The Rib training and night navigation is held on our 8.5m Rib with 300 HP
  • The Zodiac training is held on our Zodiac Milpro MK 5 HD
  • Our instructors work on board ships, bringing real-world experience and a genuine understanding of onboard operations.
  • During the training everyone will be provided with all the necessary gear from Helly Hansen.
  • During the day it is free parking, just in front of the entrance of our office!
  • Scheveningen is a popular destination for water sports, restaurants and beach life, with a big variety of hotel accommodation.
COSTS

Costs RYA Powerboat Tender Operator Course

The costs for the RYA Powerboat Tender Operator Course (2 days and a night nightsession) are € 950, – p.p.

This course fee includes:

  • Professional instruction by experienced instructors who understand the realities of working on board ships
  • Lunch, coffee, and tea during the training days
  • Use of professional maritime clothing from Helly Hansen and rubber boots.
  • Use of training vessels and safety equipment of Rib Tornado and Zodiac Milpro MK5
  • Certification upon successful completion

What is not included:

  • Dinner before the night navigation exercise
  • Accommodation
  • Travel expenses to and from the training location
PROGRAM

Program RYA Tender Operator course

Day 1- Morning

Arrival, Registration & Introduction:
Life jackets, Safety equipment, kill cord, Safety line, weather assessments

Theory Session + Practical Classroom Exercises:
Navigation Fundamentals (Paper Charts) and Electronic Navigation (Digital Charts)

Practical Session: Daytime On-Water Boat Handling:
Pre-departure safety checks, Safe embarkation and disembarkation,Close-quarters manoeuvring, Speed control and trim

Lunch in class room

Day 1 - Afternoon

Practical Session Advanced Daytime Pilotage & Navigation:
Leaving and coming alongside pontoons, bow-on approach, route navigation using paper and digital charts , Multi-point fixes and bearings, awareness of wind, tide, swell, and wash, Simulated MOB.

Debrief of Day 1

Day 1 - Evening/night

Practical Session Night Navigation & Pilotage Introduction:
Navigation lights and buoyage at night, Passage planning for night operations using digital and paper charts, Fixing position using bearings, Use of leading lights and lit marks, MOB awareness discussion (simulated)

Day 2 - Morning

Debriefing of Night Navigation.

Theory Session Advanced Navigation and manage passengers:
Advanced use of digital charts and AIS, Passenger Safety, comfort, and dealing with challenging passengers, Launching/crane operations in theory.

Practical Session Advanced On-Water Boat Handling:
Repeating of manoeuvring, Driving on to dry dock / Ice floe.

Lunch in class room

Day 2 - Afternoon

Practical Session:
Towing, Beach landings, safely (dis) embarking passengers, anchoring, basic rope handling

Debrief & Close:
Review of key learning points, Individual feedback­, Course completion discussion

WHAT TO BRING?

What to bring with you:

  • Valid identity card
  • Passport-sized photograph
  • Clothing for cold weather: extra thermals, hat, gloves
  • Clothing for warm weather: cap, sunglasses, sunscreen

What do we provide:

  • Lunch, coffee, and tea during the training days
  • Use of professional maritime clothing from Helly Hansen, rubber boots and a life jacket.
REGISTER

Book now

Street address, postal code, city, country
Please feel free to suggest dates that suit you.