Tag: Videotel

Crew competency not a tick box exerciese,says Videotel "Continuing competency in the maritime industry should be at the very top of every ship operator's agenda. The education and training of seafarers is key and the more competent and well-trained the crew, the less likelihood there is of costly accidents or incidents." That is the hard hitting message from Nigel Cleave, CEO of Videotel Marine International as he launches Videotel's innovative new Continuing Competency Manager (CCM) tool, designed to identify and develop the skills essential to safe and efficient shipboard operations.Videotel's CCM provides a one-stop solution for training, assessment and record keeping that will allow companies to develop crew competence at every level, from junior ratings to Master or Chief Engineer. Seafarer competence impacts on every shipping company and the implementation of a competency management system is crucial to both running a safe ship and maintaining a competitive advantage."Our training is both top-quality and highly authoritative," adds Nigel Cleave. "All our material is developed in conjunction with experts in the field to make the learning process as effective as possible. We include interesting and informative video, dynamic animated content and a substantial range of randomised questions to really challenge seafarers to ...

A new training programme on PSC Despite the crucial importance of Port State Control to the wellbeing of the seafarer, the vessel and the environment, it is often viewed as a necessary evil by many seafarers. Yet a knowledge of policies and procedures, and a properly prepared ship and crew, can ensure a satisfactory outcome for all parties.To address this issue Videotel, the world's largest multi-media producer of high quality maritime safety training software and US-based Maritime Training Services (MTS) who produce and distribute maritime training materials that address key safety, regulatory, and operational issues facing the industry, have combined their joint expertise to produce a new training programme on US Port State Control.The concept for the creation of the new programme was inspired by personal experience. Matt Gasparich, Managing Director at Maritime Training Services says, "Recently our film crew rode from Vancouver to Seattle on board a container ship and personally experienced the US Port State process. We compared it with our original programme produced in 1996 and instantly knew this was the time to update it."At the same time in London, Videotel's CEO, Nigel Cleave, was thinking along similar lines. "We were delighted to have the opportunity to ...

ECDIS training for all seafarers Videotel, the world's largest multi-media producer of high-quality maritime safety training software and materials serving the maritime community on board over 10,000 vessels today, together with Safebridge GmbH, providers of specialised Online training for navigational equipment and its sister company MSG Marine Serve GmbH, are bringing their unique skills together to provide, via a truly blended learning approach, completely flexible generic and product specific ECDIS training for all seafarers.There is no question that the implementation of ECDIS as the primary means of navigation will place enormous pressure on the maritime industry, due to complex training and ISM compliance issues. The lack of a common standard for ECDIS makes the challenge even greater. With significant differences between manufacturers models, as well as significant variances in model and software versions from the same manufacturer, but all complying with IMO Performance Standards, the difficulties of effective and relevant training could not be more obvious.Videotel, Safebridge and MSG's joint expertise will offer a focussed pathway through what is essentially a training minefield. With the support of the IMO, Videotel are updating their original ECDIS course to follow the new STCW Manila amendments and the proposed new IMO Model Course ...

Training needed to reduce the risks involved in any ship call Videotel Marine International has launched a new training programme, Ship Call - Visiting a Ship in Port, designed to provide all those who visit ships the training needed to reduce the risks involved in any ship call."Seafarers are highly trained, but in the past even they have come to serious harm boarding vessels," says Nigel Cleave, CEO of Videotel. "The situation is even more hazardous for visitors to ships who often lack training and experience. Individuals are expected to board vessels both day and night - often under time pressure - and in all types of weather. Tackling a gangway; alighting from a launch; using a ladder; all have their own inherent risks.Ship Call demonstrates graphically how visitors to ships can avoid the risks involved with any visit to a ship in port. Divided into three sections, the first shows how to prepare for the trip and the second looks at the risks involved in boarding the vessel. If boarding by launch, this would include monitoring the weather conditions, inspecting the launch for any hazards and checking the sea conditions before attempting to board.The final part addresses visitor safety ...

New programme: Boarding and Leaving a Vessel at Sea Videotel has announced the launch of its new programme: Boarding and Leaving a Vessel at Sea. The programme is designed to mitigate the dangers of boarding and leaving a vessel at sea or anchorage, where a missed step can mean result in fatal accidents, and intended to improve working practices in this area.The programme has been designed in conjunction with BG LNG Services. It aims at raising contractor awareness of safety standards and other issues and ensuring a more consistent quality of service among third-party suppliers.Videotel's new programme is targeted at all maritime professionals needing to board or alight from a vessel at sea but, addressing a range of maritime safety regulations, it is expected to be especially valuable for those joining a ship for the first time.Boarding and Leaving a Vessel at Sea features six stand-alone sections on the boarding process and is available in VHS/DVD, via interactive CD-ROM and on Videotel's computer delivery system Videotel On Demand (VOD)."Seafarers often have to deal with hazardous situations before they even get onto a vessel," says Nigel Cleave, CEO of Videotel Marine International."Not only is the actual boarding itself sometimes difficult and ...

Excellent food hygiene onboard ship is essential. Good food hygiene at home is important. Excellent food hygiene onboard ship is essential. Seafarers live, work and eat in close proximity yet crews often operate in isolation and the consequences of poor food hygiene can be devastating. Videotel Training Services is therefore delighted to have been awarded the UK Maritime and Coastguard Authority (MCA) and the Liberian Flag (LISCR) approval for Hygiene Training across its key training programmes for ships' cooks and galley staff, as detailed in paragraph 2 (C) of Standard A3.2 of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006."There are many hazards onboard ship but hazardous food is one of the easiest to avoid," says Nigel Cleave, CEO of Videotel. "Food hygiene standards constitute an important part of the MLC 2006 regulations. A vessel's crew is often made up of a number of different nationalities with a wide range of demands and food cultures - but good hygiene practices must always be at the heart of any galley."The following distance learning programmes have received certification.For Ships' Cooks and Staff Working in the Galley: The four part Food Safety at Sea Series considers the risks that food poses to seafarers on all types ...

Coping with Stowaways - Edition 2 Videotel Marine International has announced the launch of an update to its training programme, 'Coping with Stowaways - Edition 2', revisiting the subject and mixing new interview footage reflecting revised management and security information.'Coping with Stowaways' identifies the dangers that master and crew can face when dealing with stowaways and offers advice on how to raise security levels to ensure the problem is avoided.It focuses on the need for vigilance to prevent stowaways gaining access to the ship and the procedures to be adopted if stowaways do succeed in boarding.The course is aimed at all crew on all ships, but particularly officers concerned with ensuring the security of the vessel. It is available as a DVD with supporting booklet and as an interactive CD-ROM."In recent years we have seen an upsurge in stowaway incidents and an increase in the levels of violence encountered by crews dealing with the problem," says Nigel Cleave, CEO of Videotel."This updated programme identifies the best practices to prevent stowaways getting on board and the procedures for dealing with them."Source: The Digital Ship

Introduction to the fire hazards faced by seafarers when handling LNG and LPG A blaze onboard a liquefied gas carrier seems the ultimate nightmare scenario for most of us - however for those actually operating such vessels it is a potential hazard they must be trained to face. Ensuring safe, responsible and reliable handling of liquefied gas cargoes demands the highest training standards and Videotel Marine International in conjunction with the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) is delighted to announce the launch of a new edition of the essential Liquefied Gas Fire Hazard Management training package."Fire onboard any vessel is extremely serious," says Nigel Cleave, CEO of Videotel. "However when that vessel is carrying liquefied gas cargo the consequences can be disastrous if not managed properly. Should things go wrong, seafarers face the risk of injury or death and we are all aware of the dreadful repercussions if an environmentally damaging situation occurs."Every individual working onboard or ashore needs to fully understand the risks involved, carry out best practice procedures and be aware of all necessary precautions. SIGTTO's expertise in this field coupled with their commitment to safe, responsible and reliable terminal operations have proved invaluable ...

High quality, flexible and user friendly training No matter which flag their vessels fly or which country they are from, ship operators will soon have no option but to comply with the obligations of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention - and now is the time to prepare. However, they face the challenge of finding high quality, flexible and user friendly training that suits the needs of personnel who operate in diverse working environments with unusual working hours.Videotel Marine International now provides the answer, with the launch of the on-line Videotel Academy MLC 2006 tutor assisted distance learning course, incorporating computer based training (CBT), the first programme of its kind in the industry and the only course of its kind to offer real time on-line tutoring across the globe."The ILO Maritime Labour Convention is probably the single most important international regulation affecting manning and labour affairs that has been seen for many generations," says Nigel Cleave, CEO at Videotel. "It covers every aspect of the manning of ships, from employment conditions to medical standards, and from crew accommodation to work hour regulations."We feel that the extensive training needed should be conducted in real time by a senior course tutor with significant ...

To ensure that when working in enclosed spaces the correct equipment is used Accidents in enclosed spaces are frequent, often fatal - but crucially, also avoidable. Today, Videotel Marine International joins forces with Mines Rescue Marine to launch a brand new training series, Entry into Enclosed Spaces. The programme delivers a hard hitting message to both ship board and shore based personnel that will ensure that when working in enclosed spaces the correct equipment is used and good safety procedures become second nature."There is no excuse for the unacceptable casualties we have seen recently," says Stephen Bond, Deputy Chairman, Videotel. "Again and again we hear of seafarers coming to grief in enclosed spaces. These incidents could have been avoided by an understanding of the dangers of entering enclosed spaces and the critical importance of following proper procedures. We are convinced that the Entry into Enclosed Spaces Training Series will help save lives.""We are delighted to have been able to work with Mines Rescue Marine to create this programme. For over 100 years, their Mines Rescue Service has developed its specialist skills, experience and knowledge gained from working in a difficult and potentially dangerous environment to effect the rescue and escape ...