Ocean Science
Consulting Limited (OSC) is running a Marine Mammal Observer
(MMO) and Passive
Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) training course, 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 is currently
the first and only combined MMO and PAM training available in
the world for
working in NZ waters. The first course ran successfully in May
2014, and due to
popular demand, will be available to candidates again in
November 2014, in
preparation for the Antipodean seismic exploration season.
The Code is regarded
as international best practice, particularly concerning the
establishment of
observer training and performance standards. To meet DOC’s
requirements, OSC
had to develop the most comprehensive and intensive training
course on the
market today. There is a current shortage of trained MMO and PAM
Operators for
New Zealand waters, so successful graduates will therefore have
a significant
commercial advantage (PAM Operators in particular). The
knowledge, skills and
experience derived from this PAM training will also be
applicable worldwide.
OSC’s high quality course
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 custom-designed
environmental
survey vessel at sea.
OSC is a
technology-focused marine science 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 (www.osc.co.uk).
Based in Scotland, OSC also has a branch in New Zealand
servicing the
Asia-Pacific region (www.osc-nz.co.nz).
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 manual for the course. Our knowledge and expertise are
second-to-none, so this course is the obvious choice for anyone
wishing to
train and prepare as a competent MMO and PAM Operator to work in
the field
anywhere in the world (please note additional local
qualifications and
experience may be required).
The next course will
be run in Dunbar, East Lothian, UK, for 10 days from 10–19
November 2014.
All candidates must
have their own equipment, including reticle binoculars, handheld
GPS, ID guide,
and a laptop with NZ data forms, software required for their
GPS, and PAMGuard
pre-loaded.
To register for the
course, please send your CV to courses@osc.co.uk.
The deadline for applications is 30 September 2014, but places
will likely be
awarded sooner. Upon acceptance to the course, a £225
non-refundable deposit
towards the £2,250 total cost per candidate 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
Dunbar. Once payment
has been received, each candidate will receive an author-signed
pre-release copy
of the 'Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring
Handbook’, which
must be read prior to attending the course.
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 those initially
scoring less than
75%. This high pass mark is a key selling point for successful
candidates.
This course is being
organised by popular request, so we anticipate high demand and
places will be
allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
We look forward to
seeing you on our course soon.
-- MMO & PAM Course Coordinator OSC Limited Ocean House 4 Brewery Lane Belhaven, Dunbar East Lothian, Scotland EH42 1PD T: +44 (0)1368 865 722 F: +44 (0)1368 865 729 W: www.osc.co.uk