Marine Law Enforcement Training Program Descriptions

* Prerequisite for all courses: Participants must be currently assigned to a marine patrol unit (or expected to be assigned in the near future). Participants must also have their CA Boater Card to attend – they must bring their CA Boater Card to the first day of class. Note: if student has completed the Basic Maritime Officer’s Course, the Inland Boat Operator course, or if they have a USCG captain’s license, this prerequisite can be waived – please bring a copy of your BMOC/IBO course completion certificate or USCG captain’s license with you to the first day of class.


Basic Maritime Officer’s Course:

A ten day, 80-hour POST certified course for newly assigned marine patrol officers having designated authority under Chapter 4.5 of the California Penal Code who are (or will be) actively enforcing California boating laws. This course was designed for the newly assigned officer/deputy and will cover boating terminology, boat handling skills, navigation, weather, boating law, trailering, launching, recovery, marlinespike, vessel stops, response to emergencies, and water survival. The POST course title is ‘Maritime/Basic Officer’s Course,’ presenter #1820, course #20263.

Advanced Maritime Officer’s Course:

A three day, 24-hour POST certified course for experienced marine law enforcement officers having designated authority under Chapter 4.5 of the California Penal Code who are actively enforcing California boating laws. This course is designed to instruct the experienced marine law enforcement deputy/officer/warden that operate on lakes, rivers, harbors, and ocean waterways (inland and international). The three day Advanced Maritime Officers Course is a valuable opportunity for all graduates of the Basic Maritime Officers Course (BMOC) and Inland Boat Operator (IBO) to continue working on their maritime perishable skills. The course will provide advanced skills required to perform vessel pursuits, high-risk boarding and searches, and live fire shooting on an unstable platform. It instructs in the use of accepted terminology and tactics consistent with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security standards and the U.S. Coast Guard’s policy and procedures. The POST course title is ‘Advanced Maritime Officer’s Course’, presenter #8260, course #20265.

* Prerequisites: Students must be current maritime law enforcement officers with at least one year experience as a maritime law enforcement vessel operator and must be capable of maintaining control of a vessel while conducting high-speed maneuvers in close proximity to other vessels or obstructions. The student must be in good physical condition and must be capable of enduring long periods of strenuous underway boat operations. The following organizations/courses may qualify as prerequisites for the Advanced Maritime Officer’s Course: (1) Maritime Law Enforcement Training Center (MLETC) Basic Maritime Officer’s Course (BMOC), (2) California State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) Inland Boat Operator training, (3) a USCG Merchant Mariner Certificate, or (4) completion of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Maritime Law Enforcement Training Program.

Inland Boat Operator:

A five day, 40-hour POST certified introductory course for boating enforcement officers. This course is designed to provide vessel operators with the skills necessary to safely operate a public safety vessel on inland rivers and lakes. Participants will gain practical knowledge regarding nomenclature, vessel inspections, navigation rules, aids to navigation, charts, weather, boating law, patrol techniques, and boating under the influence (BUI) and boating accident investigation (BAI) scenarios. Participants will gain practical experience in vessel operation, trailering, launching, recovery, operating, and conducting enforcement stops. The course will also include a swim assessment where officers will learn and demonstrate skills necessary for water survival. The POST course title is ‘Boating Safety & Ops for Inland Waters’, presenter #9400, course #20201.

Basic Coastal Operator:

A five-day, 40-hour introductory course for boating enforcement officers. This course is designed to provide vessel operators with the skills necessary to safely operate a public safety vessel in nearshore coastal environments. Participants will gain practical knowledge and experience regarding nomenclature, vessel inspections, navigation rules, aids to navigation, charts, weather, boating laws, patrol techniques, vessel handling, and interagency operability. The course will also include a swim assessment where officers will learn and demonstrate skills necessary for water survival.

Rescue Boat Operations:

A five day, 40-hour POST certified course for marine patrol officers who operate emergency response boats under varying conditions. This course will cover emergency response operations, towing, offshore operations, and search & recovery. The POST course title is ‘Boating: Rescue Boat Operation’, presenter #9400, course #20250.

* Prerequisite: Students must have completed basic boat operator training (e.g. Basic Maritime Officer’s course, Inland Boat Operations, or have twelve months of marine patrol experience).

Check out the Rescue Boat Operations Training video here!

Marine Firefighter Operations:

A five day, 40-hour POST certified course designed to give marine patrol officers first-hand knowledge of the hazards of marine firefighting. Marine patrol officers will receive the basic information from a lecture series and the experience of fighting live fires under controlled conditions. The POST course title is ‘Boating: Marine Fires’, presenter #9400, course #20190.

*Participants are required to bring fire turnout gear (including SCBA), a physician’s medical clearance (clearing you to breathe compressed gases), an OSHA medical evaluation questionnaire, and face mask fit test clearance. Documents providing further information will be sent with registration confirmation.

Boating Under the Influence:

A four day, 32-hour POST certified course designed to educate marine patrol officers on the current law regarding intoxicated vessel operation with emphasis on arrest procedures, chemical testing, report preparation, and courtroom preparation. The course includes training in the use of Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs), and introduces the use of Preliminary Alcohol Screening Devices with the intent of providing marine patrol officers additional enforcement techniques useful in detecting the high tolerance drinker. The POST course title is ‘Boating Intoxication Enforcement’, presenter #9400, course #20220.

* Prerequisite: Students must have completed basic boat operator training (e.g. Basic Maritime Officer’s course, Inland Boat Operations, or have twelve months of marine patrol experience).

Boating Accident Investigation:

A five day, 40-hour POST certified course designed to educate marine patrol officers on technical accident investigation and accident scene management. Students will perform multiple investigations/reconstructions and become familiar with diagramming as well as navigation rules and operational laws as they apply to boating accidents. Students are required to complete an in-depth boating accident investigation report for the final exam. The POST course title is ‘Boating Acc Inv/Reconstruct,’ presenter #9400, course #20240.

* Prerequisite: Students must have completed basic boat operator training (e.g. Basic Maritime Officer’s course, Inland Boat Operations, or have twelve months of marine patrol experience).