Tag: training

Concordia shipwreck MEPs voiced concern about evacuation procedure training on passenger ships and suggested limiting cruise ship size by law, in a Transport and Tourism Committee debate with Commissioner Siim Kallas on Tuesday.An investigation of the Concordia accident will help shape a revision of ship safety rules and new measures might be tabled before the end of 2012, Mr Kallas said. He also deplored EU Member States' "lack of enthusiasm" for stepping up the European Maritime Safety Agency's powers.Source: European Parliament

Cruise ship disaster shed light on safety gaps The cruise ship disaster off Italy's coast is drawing fresh scrutiny to the gaps in international safety rules and standards - yet there may be little appetite among the world's major shipping nations and companies for big changes anytime soon.While an international regime exists for the training of mariners on everything from car ferries to cruise ships, enforcing that is very much a national affair. Shipping executives, insurers and maritime attorneys say the problem is one of cost - the cost of more comprehensive training schemes like those used in the military. It is a burden that shipping nations and their largest shipping companies do not want to shoulder.Given that maritime nations and the industry want to promote growth throughout the world, imposing a heavier "level of training and certification would be perceived as being quite onerous," said David Loh, a maritime lawyer with Cozen O'Connor in New York and a former lieutentant commander in the U.S. Navy.The training of mariners on commercial ships is governed by the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention, known in the industry as STCW, which was drafted in 1978 under the auspices of the International ...

The Republic of the Marshall Islands issues Marine Safety Advisory The Republic of the Marshall Islands issues Marine Safety Advisory regarding ECDIS Training and Seafarer Documentation as required by the Manila Amendments to the STCW Code as follows:The Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention and Code entered into force on 1 January 2012. In accordance with these regulations, ALL deck officers assigned to serve on vessels that are fitted with Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) must receive approved training in the use and limitations of ECDIS.The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator (the "Administrator") will take into consideration that prior to the entry into force of the Manila Amendments to STCW, the IMO Model Course 1.27 was valid and acceptable for training in ECDIS and that this course is still valid and effective.Certificates of training issued in accordance with the requirements of IMO Model Course 1.27, or equivalent, will be "grandfathered" and accepted as approved training for service on vessels fitted with ECDIS.For more information, click here.Source: The Republic of the Marshall Islands

Agreement for the acquisition of a Maritime Crew Resource Management Cosco Maritime (UK), part of one of the world's largest shipping groups, has signed an agreement with Oxford Aviation Academy (OAA) for the acquisition of a Maritime Crew Resource Management (MCRM) licence to deliver training at its Shanghai Training Centre, China. In addition to providing MCRM training support to Cosco's instructor team, OAA training materials will also be translated into Mandarin Chinese.OAA's MCRM training programme is a human factors training course, based on the core principles of aviation Crew Resource Management (CRM). Established for almost 20 years, MCRM deals with the psychology and interpersonal skills required by crew to operate safely onboard vessels. Independent behavioural analysis has proven that the training programme delivers significant improvements in crew attitude and behaviour to safety.OAA became the first organisation in the world to have its MCRM course certified by Det Norske Veritas AS (DNV) against the Manila 2010 requirements for BRM and Engine Resource Management (ERM) training at the operational and management levels that came into effect in January 2012.Shicheng Yang, CEO of Cosco Maritime (UK), said: "We believe OAA's MCRM product to be first class and want our training to reflect the ...

Latest HELMEPA training programme HELMEPA has started implementation of its new, annual Volunteer Refresher Training Programme, attempting to provide a modern dimension for the adequately prepared, safe and environmentally friendly ship.The 2012 Training Programme is the 30th since the foundation of HELMEPA and the fifth planned by its Maritime Sector as a certified Maritime Training Centre for Pollution Prevention, Safety at Sea and Environmental Awareness.Following this decision from HELMEPA's Board of Directors, this year's programme has been developed in collaboration with a Training Committee made of representatives from member companies, with the aim to serve the companies' training needs to the best possible extent. The program, which opens on January 17th, consists of 25 two-day seminars, which are separated into the following thematic categories: Environmental Management; Safety - Risk - Crises; and Marine Environmental Awareness.It should be noted that the training of officers and cadets (third category of HELMEPA Seminars) is mandatory from 2013, according to the recently amended STCW.HELMEPA will implement this year's programme in cooperation with the following members (seven companies and six classification societies):American Bureau of Shipping Atlantic Bulk Carriers Ltd Bureau Veritas Chandris (Hellas) S.A. Costamare Shipping Company S.A. Det Norske Veritas Environmental Protection Engineering S.A. ...

Maritime curriculum upgrade pushed In order to sustain its current status as the premier provider of quality seafarers worldwide, the Philippine's Commission on Higher Education is pushing for an upgrade in maritime education.According to Capt. Hernando Eusebio, this push for educational and training improvement is needed to create more competitive Filipino seafarers in the future. Also, if the upgrades push through, the Philippines will continue to hold its current prestige as the global maritime industry."Only through upgrading our maritime training curriculum can the Philippines maintain its lead as the world's number one supplier of efficient and highly trained seamen," Eusebio emphasized.Eusebio also added that the CHED technical panel and its working group is doing everything in its power to come up with updated training syllabus that will further cement the Filipino seamen's excellent reputation."We are being aided in this task by other government agencies (with maritime functions) and manning industry stakeholders," he added.Apart from updating the maritime schools' curriculum, Eusebio also noted that training centres must also invest on quality people and equipment to make their graduates more globally competitive."This is the only way we can survive and compete internationally. Adequate funding must be set aside to obtain these requisites," ...

By the Bahamas Maritime Authority The Bahamas Maritime Authority issues Bulletin which outlines the Bahamas training requirements for applicable officers serving onboard ships fitted with Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) as follows:The ship specific ECDIS training should relate to the make and model of the ECDIS equipment installed on the ship.This should build on the generic training, and be delivered by either:i. the manufacturer; orii. the manufacturers approved agent ,oriii. a trainer who has attended such a programmeFor more information, click hereSource: The Bahamas Maritime Authority

Deficiencies which EMSA inspectors noted are related to maritime education & training institutions The Philippines must upgrade standards in the training and education of seafarers even as the European Union is preparing to announce whether Filipino maritime crew is complying with a 1995 convention on standards.Senator Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on education, warned that if the EU says the Philippines has not been complying with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, Filipino seafarers will be barred from working on"The maritime industry will be seriously undermined if the government does not take decisive steps to improve not only the national system of maritime education and training in the country, but also the development and implementation of a strong and comprehensive agenda for Filipino seafarers," he said.Quoting figures from the Labor department, Angara said Filipinos make up around 30 percent of all seafarers. Those seafarers send home around $300 million (P12.9 billion) a year. If the Portugal-based European Maritime Safety Agency finds Philippine training standards are not within SCTW standards, the loss of jobs will affect the 25 percent of remittances from seafarers, Angara said.Angara is the author of the proposed Magna Carta ...

When some skippers see pirates are coming they stop the engine - that is just about the worst "When some skippers see pirates are coming they stop the engine - that is just about the worst thing you can do."For Tony Dumbell, head of Maritime Operations at Fleetwood Nautical Campus, dealing with pirates is a matter of common sense, as he speaks from a virtual ship's bridge in a classroom off the Lancashire coast.The Gulf of Aden may be a world away from the Irish Sea but this college is leading the way in preparing mariners on how to deal with pirates.It also helps sea marshals - armed security guards based on ships - tackle the basics of managing the potentially-lethal situation.The college, where Prince William learned how to escape from a submerged helicopter, is offering modules on dealing with piracy as part of its courses for merchant navy officer cadets.Campus head John Matthews said the college decided to offer the courses after a former student told them about an attempted piracy attack 18 months ago.The ship eventually repelled the attempted boarders by hurling large chunks of wood at the approaching launch.Although students don body armour and are taught how ...

Good marine coatings are vital for the maintenance of safe and efficient hull structures Programme will develop appropriate, qualified, expertise in a cost effective and convenient mannerGood marine coatings are vital for the maintenance of safe and efficient hull structures and surfaces.The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) require compliance with coatings standards. Inspections under the IMO's Performance Standards for Protective Coatings (PSPC) and IACS' UI SC223 must be carried out by qualified coatings inspectors certified to National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) Coating Inspector Level 2, The Norwegian Professional Council for Education and Certification of Inspectors for Surface Treatment (FROSIO) Inspector Level III or equivalents.To help meet demand for qualified inspectors, Lloyd's Register has developed a new series of online, marine coatings training courses. Coatings and Corrosion Control with the use of Protective Coatings, is an internationally accredited series of coatings-inspection courses."Students will be able to earn either certificates or diplomas, depending on the level they study, in coatings and corrosion control. The qualification achieved by taking the course on Performance Standards for Protective Coatings is equivalent to the NACE and FROSIO qualifications required by IMO and IACS," said Andrew Williamson, Lloyd's Register's ...