Become a Licensed Small Vessel Operator.
Providing the Global Standard in Marine Training and Certification.
Available Courses
Small Vessel Operator Proficiency Course
The minimum standards of training for operators of Small Commercial Vessels in Canada.
Certified CourseSmall Domestic Vessel Basic Safety
Basic safety training for Captains on small commercial vessels and crew members for vessels up to 150 GT.
Certified CourseMarine Radio Operator License
Required license to legally operate marine radios
Certified CourseSmall Powerboat and RHIB Master
Advanced practical training designed to meet MCA Small Commercial Vessel Code requirements and ICC standards.
Certified CourseAsk us about our price match guarantee. If you can find these courses for less we will beat it.
Custom Training and Professional Services.
We specialize in custom training and program development in your location for Remote Coastal Communities, Guardian Watchmen, Stewardship programs and corporate clients on demand.
Our Services Include:
- Transport Canada and Internationally accredited Marine Training as an official IYT Partner School
- Program development and implementation
- Vessel and equipment procurement
- Best Practice and Safety Management System development
Training Locations
By Request
Remote Training
Contact us to discuss customized remote training opportunities.
Trusted Marine Training
Heads-Up Navigation provides government accredited marine training, including practical, on the water, courses. Meeting all regulatory and compliance standards in Canada and Internationally.
Transport Canada
approved training provider
Experienced and
Certified Instructors
20+ Years
Operating
Official International
Yacht Training (IYT)
Partner School
About
Certified Training. Real-World Experience.
Heads-Up Navigation has been providing professional marine training and certification since 1998. We deliver Transport Canada–approved courses and accredited practical training for commercial skippers, crew, and pleasure craft operators, with a focus on clear instruction, real-world application, and safety on the water.
Our experienced instructors bring practical marine backgrounds to every course, ensuring students leave confident, compliant, and prepared to operate responsibly.
Adrian brings over 20 years experience as a Captain working on every major ocean worldwide.
- Owned and operated a research vessel in the south pacific for 10 years
- Taught SVOP, SDV-BS and ROC-M for 3 years across Canada to clients including RCMP, DFO, Parks Canada, BC Parks and Remote Coastal Communities
- Owner and Operator of a International Yacht Training practical skills based school
- The Managing Director of a grassroots environmental organization for 7 years
- Executive Director of a Canadian Registered Charity for an international foundation for 2 years
- Has delivered 2 TEDx talks
- Still actively works in the field on marine stewardship and operations
Contact Us
Have a Question?
FAQs
To operate as a small vessel Captain, you are required to hold the following certifications:
- SVOP – Small Vessel Operator Proficiency
- SDV-BS – Small Domestic Vessel Basic Safety (formerly MED A3)
- ROC-M – Restricted Operator Certificate (Marine Radio License)
- MBFA – Marine Basic First Aid, or another provincially recognized 2-day first aid course
Together, these certifications meet the core regulatory requirements for small commercial vessel operators.
For most courses, there are no prerequisites or pre-study requirements.
- SVOP, ROC-M, and Small Powerboat & RHIB Master:
No prior training or experience is required before attending. - SDV-BS:
Transport Canada now requires completion of a free online Fatigue Management course prior to certification. This course can be accessed here:
https://www.ccohs.ca/distributors/transport-canada
There is no mandatory pre-reading or study for any course. However, if this material is new to you, we’re happy to provide PDFs of course textbooks and Transport Canada Small Vessel Guidelines in advance.
There are no sea-time or prior marine experience requirements for any of our courses.
You must be at least 16 years old to take our marine training courses.
To act as the Captain (sole operator) of a small commercial vessel, you must be at least 18 years old, as required by regulation.
Currently, these certifications do not expire and do not require renewal.
Depending on your industry — such as passenger vessels, fishing, tug, or workboat operations — additional industry-specific safety modules may be required. These are typically 1-day courses focused on the unique safety considerations of that sector.
The SVOP remains the core prerequisite for these additional modules.
Yes. Heads-Up Navigation is an official partner school for International Yacht Training (IYT).
We can deliver any recreational-level IYT certification, provided the training is conducted on a vessel supplied by the candidate or organization.
Yes. In fact, we specialize in private and customized training.
We regularly deliver training for:
- Remote and coastal communities
- Guardian Watchmen programs
- Marine Stewardship programs
- Corporations operating in remote or challenging environments
Private courses can be delivered on location and tailored to your operational needs.