Certified learning company

In the 1970’s several Dutch boatmen companies where already been busy with training there novices. With the objective that each boatman had to gain the inland shipping master diploma at the Stichting Koninklijk Onderwijsfonds voor de scheepvaart. (Foundation Royal Educational Fund for Shipping”/(KOF),

In 1989 consultation took place between the “Foundation Royal Educational Fund for Shipping”/(KOF), “Shipping Association North”, “The Dutch Boatmen Association” (cooperative of boatmen companies of all Dutch sea ports) and the ministry of education culture and sciences. A new qualified training for boatmen had arisen (Together with a full profession diploma `Boatmen') and since 1992 it has been taught by the Shipping & Transport College (STC) at Rotterdam.

The boatmen training in the 21st century.
In 2003 we started to adapt the existing boatmen training standard and made the necessary requirements of this time. After a long-term process in 2007 the training is revalued from a level 2 to a level 3 where especially competent aimed education is central. CREBOnummer:93030

What a boatmen does and learns to be able to function within a port area.
The port area is an international logistical centre, where large-scale transfer of goods goes hand in hand with the industrial processing of it. The port stands for: impressive shipping, stores iron ore and coals, terminals full containers and the enormous installations of the industry. It is a dynamic field of action where the time never stands still.

Within this field of action the novice boatmen learns positioning, mooring/ unmooring and shifting of sea-going (work) vessels/platforms, along a quay, buoy, dolphin, pile or slope and alongside of sea-going vessels and locks. He transports people, goods and floating objects within the work area.

The boatmen works on board of sea-going (work) vessels/platforms. He also assists at the treatment of calamities. The boatmen fulfill therefore a pin function in the port and/or lock. That a boatmen works safe and efficiently is very important: after all it concerns the safety of precious ships, cargos, the environment and people. In daily practice he cooperates with other nautical service providers. Such as the pilot, crew, terminal operator(s), port authorities and tugboat company’(s). During the 3 years of training the novice boatmen receives a wide attention on safety and communication. In practice the novice boatmen is accompanied by an experienced boatmen who gives instructions and helps when necessary.