Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) is
running a Marine
Mammal Observer (MMO) and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM)
training course for
experienced observers (must have 12 weeks experience), which has
been approved
by the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC), as being
consistent with
standards in the ‘2013 code of conduct for minimising acoustic
disturbance to
marine mammals from seismic survey operations’ (the Code). OSC’s
DOC-approved course
was the first combined MMO and PAM training available in the world
for working
in NZ waters, and our first ever course ran successfully in May
2014. Our next course
is scheduled in December 2015.
OSC’s high-quality training involves
responsive personal (including
one-to-one) tuition throughout, hands-on experience with
state-of-the-art PAM
equipment during classroom theory and practical sessions, and
field practice
aboard a vessel at sea.
OSC is a technology-focused marine
science R&D company with
over a decade of experience in supplying commercial and scientific
MMO and PAM
services to the offshore and other marine-related industries
worldwide. OSC has
a company in New Zealand servicing the Asia-Pacific region (www.osc-nz.co.nz), a
company in the UK operating worldwide (www.osc.co.uk), and a
branch in Greece (www.oceanscienceconsulting.gr)
servicing the Mediterranean and neighbouring geographical waters.
Our course
instructors are highly experienced and degree-level qualified
scientists,
practiced MMOs and PAM Operators, and authors of the 'Marine
Mammal Observer
and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Handbook’ (www.marinemammalobserverhandbook.co.uk), which
forms the course manual.
OSC’s knowledge and expertise is
second-to-none, and DOC has set
exacting training standards, so this course is the obvious choice
for anyone
wishing to train and prepare as a competent MMO and PAM Operator
to work
anywhere in the world (please note additional local qualifications
and
experience may be required).
The next course will be run in
Wellington, New Zealand, for three
days, from 7–9 December 2015.
All candidates must have their own
equipment, including reticle
binoculars (i.e. lens stencilled with measurements for range
estimation),
handheld GPS, ID guide, and a laptop preloaded with NZ data forms,
software
required for your GPS, and PAMGuard.
To
register for the course, please send your CV and a brief
description of why you
want to attend this course to courses@osc-nz.co.nz. Your CV must
give details (client,
location, type of industrial activity, role, duration, etc.) of
your offshore
experience, as this course is only available for experienced MMOs
and PAM
Operators. As per
DOC
requirements, a minimum of 12 weeks sea time as a professional
seismic MMO/PAM
Operator anywhere in the world is required to undertake this
course.
The
deadline for applications is 20 November 2015.
The full payment of $2,700 (NZD) is
required to secure your
position. Course costs do not include accommodation or food, and
candidates are
required to make their own travel arrangements to and from
Wellington.
Please note that this is not simply an
‘attend-and-pass course’.
In accordance with DOC’s requirements, successful candidates must
achieve ‘results
of 75% and above’, although we will provide further reassessment
procedures for
anyone initially scoring less than 75%. This high pass mark is a
key selling
point for successful candidates to demonstrate their knowledge and
competence;
furthermore, for candidates who preform exceptionally, OSC may
have
opportunities for employment and/or scientific research (http://www.osc.co.uk/publications-and-press-covers).