“ Engineering is a great profession. There is the satisfaction of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a plan on paper. Then it moves to realisation in stone or metal or energy. Then it brings homes to men or women. Then it elevates the standard of living and adds to the comforts of life. This is the engineer's high privilege” Herbert Hoover. 31st President of the United States

Did you know he didn't invent the hoover, that was the brainchild of Ives W. McGaffey. Thomas crapper didn't actually invent the toilet either. What could you invent? Do you have the interest and aptitude to become a Yacht Engineer? What is engineering all about? Quite often the work of an engineer goes unnoticed until it all goes wrong! Did you know that there are strict rules and limits for the discharge of raw sewage that you can discharge into the sea? Did you know that there is a limit as to the amount of Sulphur you are allowed to have in your fuel? How can you be an engineering assistant on a super yacht?

The answers to all these questions and more can be found, as Bluewater Yachting Antibes is shortly to embark on the autumn series of engineering courses. These courses range from the improved AEC through to the popular Y4 courses, and the higher-level Y3 and Y2 courses in November. Bluewater Engineering now boasts the best pass rates with more students attaining higher grades than in the past. We are working ever more closely with the MCA and the Scottish Qualifying Authority to best prepare students for the challenges that lay ahead. But it is as much about the quality of instruction and the furthering of engineering knowledge of the student that sets us aside from the rest. Just passing the exam is one thing, however increasing levels of understanding and getting a feel for how things work, what can go wrong, what are the maintenance requirements and most importantly what are the safety considerations and risks associated with Super yacht engineering. Preparation is everything; don't forget along with the necessary experience you will need to do some advance reading (about 6 weeks) to hit the ground running at the Y4 level. Statistically the pass rates correlate very positively with the preparation. Our vastly experienced instructors continue to improve both the content and the delivery of each engineering course.

If you are uncertain whether you are ready for the next step do not hesitate to contact the Bluewater Training Department who will advise you on the best way forward. Naturally if you wish to enquire about equivalency from previous engineering employment or standards of your qualifications, you should contact the MCA via the website www.mcga.co.uk to ascertain your eligibility – you may even be exempt from some parts of the training and examination requirements. BluewaterYachting are also conducting a limited amount of oral preparation with a very high pass rate to date and provide the best preparation for the final hurdles of qualification at each level. The MCA guidelines for written and oral examinations, locations, telephone numbers and useful contact information are all contained in MGN 156 which again can also be found on the MCA website. For full details of the training courses available and the autumn programme visit www.bluewateryachting.com.