UK OFFICE
West Nautical,18A Osborne Road,Jesmond,Newcastle upon Tyne,NE2 2AD,United Kingdom
Tel: +44 191 478 9920
CYPRUS OFFICE
50 Agias Zonis,Arianthi Court,2nd Floor,3090 Limassol,Cyprus
Tel: +3 572 505 1423
MIDDLE EAST OFFICE
The Binary Tower By Omniyat,8th Floor,Office 808,32 Marasi Drive Street,Business Bay,Dubai,United Arab Emirates
Tel: +1 646 207 7545
Designed specifically for those who possess a STCW Reg A-II/2 Master (Yacht) 3000GT or above, the training programme will be run in association with South Shields Marine School
The first two days will be spent in a 360-degree bridge simulator at the Marine School, where delegates will be put through a series of scenarios with the aim of improving bridge team resource management and emergency response. The simulated vessels are motor yachts between 40M and 90M in length, with realistic handling characteristics.
The third day we continue on from the previous 2 days in the college with classroom seminars incorporating real-time incident investigations with a maritime lawyer and casualty surveyor. First introduced to the course in 2019 with fantastic feedback, we are delighted to be joined by an expert surveyor and lawyer from Butterworth Marine who will conduct a simulated incident investigation and trial with the Captain, using real scenarios they witnessed during the previous day in the simulator, using all the evidence they collected to support their case.
West Nautical have developed the simulated scenarios to be superyacht-specific and crew-focused to ensure that delegates gain valuable experience in a realistic environment.
Previous Command and Control Training Course attendees have dealt with situations that have included crew altercations, fires, collisions, distress situations and the rescuing of persons from the water, all whilst dealing with the demands of guests and crew.
Following each simulator session, a debrief takes place where delegates can analyse the actions taken and the responses to the scenarios to allow them to identify any learning points that can be taken back and put into practice on board.
The West Nautical yacht management team are also put through their paces, playing an integral part in the scenarios: dealing with Captains via telephone and testing their own emergency response plans, adapting to the actions of the Captains performance during their training scenarios.
With only a limited number of spaces available this course provides a fantastic opportunity for Captains to network, update their skills and acquire new knowledge to implement once back on board. A series of evening entertainment will also be arranged in some of Newcastle’s finest restaurants.
“The simulator training was fantastic. These types of training exercises are a must for us as Captains, I felt I learnt a lot from particular scenarios and incidents that were given to us. We forget from time to time that these things can happen and we need to have this type of training to refresh us and remind us of what practice we put in place when we are on our own yachts."
“I have worked for large management companies for over 13 years in the industry and I have not ever been offered this type of training before, I will be highly recommending this to other Captains to join next year”
Captain Jean-Marc Bitouzet -
“There’s definitely no captain or officer out there better than this course. It’s an intense two days, but the amount we’ve learnt is phenomenal.”
Ross Green, of motor yacht Savannah, 83m Feadship-
“Personally, it should be compulsory. I have not learnt more than on this course. The challenges take you out of your comfort zone, that’s for sure – it’s very realistic training.”
– Daniel Ducrot of motor yacht Lunasea, 73m Feadship.
“Great course...I’ve wanted to do this for a while. It has been an intense couple of days, but it has been incredibly rewarding. There’s a lot to take away from this, and I’m very glad to have been part of it.
– Tom Alderman, Relief Captain.
“The experience of total immersion in the bridge and the scenario roles put together by the West Nautical team makes you learn really quickly because the immersion of the stress is more than you would learn in a year at sea on the bridge.
If you can do it, do it! I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.”
Captain Dean Pilatti -
“As a captain, it gives you a level of training we’re not able to do on board. The simulator provides the setting for training command and control emergency scenarios. We have simulated real emergencies much better than being able to do on board.
I’d highly recommend it as an additional course beyond the requirements as an excellent tool and learning process for an experienced Master.”
Captain Will Kaye -
For further information on the West Nautical Captain’s Command and Control course or to sign up contact training@westnautical.com or call +44 191 478 9920. You can view the course's FAQs & additional feedback from former participants below.
This course has been designed for experienced superyacht captains or Chief Officers holding a valid Master 3000GT license or above who are looking for simulated command experience prior to taking their first command.
The course runs every October, next taking place on the 14th-16th October 2025.
A minimum of six and maximum of twelve delegates will operate in teams of no more than three.
The simulator used for the course is located at the South Shields Marine School near Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England.
All delegates must hold a valid STCW Reg A-II/2 Master (Yacht) 3000GT or above qualification.
£1,500.00 plus VAT per person + accommodation fees (see below)
The fee is fully inclusive of local transport, lunch and evening meals and entertainment.
All delegates are accommodated in a 4* hotel in Newcastle upon Tyne, breakfast is included. West Nautical shall provide all local transportation including to and from the Marine School.
The course fee does not include accommodation, which West Nautical shall book on the delegate's behalf at a discounted rate of £95.00 per room per night.
Just yourself and your enthusiasm - everything else will be provided!
Please email training@westnautical.com to register your interest and we will send you the course application form.
The Captain's Command and Control course was beyond any of my expectations. I’ve never done a similar course before, and I must say out of all the courses I’ve been on, this was the best one so far! The simulator gives you the chance to encounter things that you otherwise would not (hopefully) throughout your career, unless you are in an emergency, but it’s exactly these situations which require the most attention and are the most important to practice. As if they do occur in real life, it would be a highly stressful and information overloaded situation!
The course brings it all! The West Nautical team, as well as the other delegates, are extremely professional and it was such a pleasure attending the course. I really learned a lot, not just from the instructors but from everyone involved, and I highly recommend it to any Captain or Chief Officer looking to further develop their skills and knowledge.
This course is a must for all Masters and Senior Officers wishing to step outside of their comfort zone and leave a better version of themselves. The course enables you to review and pressure test your emergency procedures alongside receiving detailed analysis and feedback from experienced tutors and industry leading Captains on your communication and leadership during simulated emergencies. The simulators were of a very high standard, I hope to return with my Bridge and Engineering team to further our vessel specific training.
Having sailed only at OOW level, it was a real experience to partake in the course with experienced Masters and an exceptional training team. I can only explain it as an eye-opening exercise, which truly emphasised the need for effective Bridge team management and emergency preparedness. I recommend this course to all Masters and seafarers who encourage a professional, safe and well managed yacht.
Great course – three days well spent. Having the opportunity to be critiqued by trainers, peers, not to mention seeing yourself ‘perform’ was hugely beneficial through scenario playbacks. Go in there with an open mind, do your best, then open yourself to the feedback and I guarantee you’ll leave with a fresh approach to bridge work. It was great to learn in a positive environment and an excellent few days of socialising with other industry professionals. I’ll be back!
This course should be a requirement! Fast paced, efficiently run, simulation exercises with real life emergencies, which I feel more prepared for out at sea. Raw, direct, debriefs take the course to another level and will help you grow as a more experienced Captain. Make time for this course and expand your knowledge.
Thank you for organising the course last week, I really enjoyed being put through my paces and some of the insight gained will be invaluable for me moving forward in my career.
If you’re going to go on one course this year, in any year, make it the West Nautical Command & Control Course. It’s different to any course I’ve ever done. It pushes you, with a great bunch of people. You get to learn alongside your peers but it pushes you well out of your comfort zone, places and scenarios that you don’t normally go. It’s challenging, super challenging, but its also a whole bunch of fun too!
The simulator training was fantastic. These types of training exercises are a must for us as Captains, I felt I learnt a lot from particular scenarios and incidents that were given to us, we forget from time to time that these things can happen and we need to have this type of training to refresh us and remind us of what practice we put in place when we are on our own yachts.
We often forget that anything can happen at sea and this was an ideal way to check how we react under pressure. The scenarios were realistic and tested us to the extreme. It also reminded us of the duty of care we owe to our crew, guests and owners both at sea and in port. I have worked for large Management companies for over 13 years in the industry and I have never been offered this type of training before, I will be highly recommending this to other Captains to join next year.
West Nautical command and control course is well structured with good course content and excellent practical instruction. Debriefs were concise, detailed and informative. The Simulator and facilities were excellent and brought a real sense of authenticity. On many levels the course was tailored to the ability and experience of the masters taking part.
I would highly recommend this course to any new bridge team or operations team looking to practice yacht operations and add a touch of fitness to the exciting operational skills.
I was a bit apprehensive that I wouldn't learn so much by not being in the simulator for the full two days but it very soon became apparent that learning and improvements to my own management style were significantly enhanced by analyzing other teams too.
It was also very interesting to watch the West Nautical team and DPA in actin during the simulator exercises.
I learned a lot from both instructors and - more importantly - from peers; I have developed better teamwork skills. It was also very interesting / reassuring to see how shoreside deals with emergencies!
The learning points summarised in the debriefs have been extremely valuable with the great advantage of putting these into practice and immediately seeng the outcomes.
Well received and much appreciated!
The West Nautical team and everyone involved were very professional and helped us a lot throughout the course. I feel much more confident and I can't wait to implement new things on my boat!
I will definitely recommend this to others in the future.
Dynamic, well-organised and thought-provoking scenarios. The constantly changing and evolving simulations were a breath of fresh air compared to the usual. I plan to use a huge amount of my learning on board.
This course has far exceeded my expectations. I have learned far more than i could have in a year on my own bridge!
My last three simulator sessions have all been based on navigation and the 'rules of the road.'
This course focused on management decisions and communication skills and I found it very beneficial. The team at West Nautical has thought of everything that may cause problems at sea and then added even more pressure to really test us. I’m confident that the lessons learned will always be remembered. I’m very impressed.
As a Captain, it gives you a level of training we're not able to do onboard. The simulator provides the setting for training command and control emergency scenarios. We have simulated real emergencies much better than being able to do onboard.
I'd highly recommend it as an additional course beyond the requirements as an excellent tool and learning process for an experienced Master”.
Being in a Masters role with over 30 years' command experience, it was an interesting exercise to join the bridge and support the role of another Captain and observe how the crew operate in these scenarios, there is a lot to take back from this.
It was great to be involved with the young team at West Nautical, great personalities and good knowledge of the industry.
The Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) is pleased to award West Nautical Ltd ‘Course Recognition’ for its Yacht Captain’s Command and Control Simulator course. Glenys Jackson, MNTB Head commented: ‘Following a rigorous process, West Nautical has demonstrated that their course meets the MNTB’s exacting criteria for good practice in training course provision.
This new Course Recognition Service that we are offering to the industry will enable any company that provides training to hold its head up in the market place and above its competitors, as its training has been recognised by an impartial industry body as meeting our good practice guidelines for quality training provision.
Very good experience and well ran course where you're not tested, you're informed. Really helped me to understand the management office's role during an incident onboard and gave me a very different perspective and it's nice to know what the other half do and why we're paying them!
Having come from a new build project, I would highly recommend it for Masters and their officers who have not sailed together to book a course like this where you get to test your team in a controlled environment without any embarrassment.
Highly recommended to captains and senior crew members
Before this course the commercial NAEST Management Simulator training was the best I had in my career, this week beat it.
Despite my age and experience we are never too late to learn new things and I did on this course. Thanks to all that attended. Both West Nautical, Simulator staff, nurses and the other Captains. A Captain that knows it all is a dangerous Captain.
The course is very well organised and achieves all the goals considering the command and control abilities on the bridge and on board.
Exceeded expectation. West Nautical have a great team and I wouldn’t hesitate to work with you all in the future. I highly recommend it and will be encouraging friends and colleagues to participate in courses.
