The importance of shore based training for seafarers

3. Trianing assumes huge
importance in today’s
shipboard life.
Initially training was in the
form of competency courses
and on board training.

4. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
STCW 1978
STCW 1995
STCW Courses – Basic / Adv
SSTP
On-board training
Value added courses
TMSA and others

5. The Big Question:
Has standards on board the
vessel dropped in general?
Has the quality of the juniors
deteriorated??

6. Now comes the paradox:
Why is it that in spite of
increased training requirements
both mandatory and value
added there is a so-called drop
in quality of the seafarers??

7. A few questions that beg
answers:
1. Is the quality of pre-sea
training deteriorating
2. Are the entry level standards
not good enough?
3. Are the Institutes for STCW
courses doing their job?

8. 4. What about the on board
training?
 5. In addition we have a number
of value added courses? What is
their utility?
6. Or is it that the candidate is
just not good enough?

9. - The answer probably lies
somewhere in between!!
- There is a doubt that due to the
explosion of training institutes
and the shortage of good faculty
the quality of pre-sea training
might have down somewhat.

10. - There is also the fact that for
similar reasons the STCW
training has not reached the
required level.
- Basic STCW courses have not
received the attention they
deserve

11. - But what about on board
training??
- On board training was thought
to be the last frontier where the
trainee learnt the ropes.
- But today??

12. In Defence:
- Training Institutes:
The introduction of the
Comprehensive Inspection
Programme (CIP) by the DGS in
a phased manner is hoped to lift
the quality of the Institutes both
in pre-sea and post-sea training.

13. On board training:
- In the good old days, port stay
meant a minimum of five to six
days, with no cargo work at night,
no pressures of turnaround etc..
- Today seafarers are better of at
sea than in port!!!
- In short – No time for training!!

14. The number of crew on board
ships ensured that no individual
crew was stressed, no problems
of rest hour management, in fact
a healthy social life all round!!

15. The juniors were taught by the
seniors personally, with a lot of
hand holding.
Today the seniors are running
to maintain the schedule and
have no time to hand hold!!

16. Thus the juniors were more
often than not seen as menial
hands, only work with less of
any actual training!!!

18. What then is the solution:
- Concentrate on on-board
training whenever possible.
- Make the juniors feel more
wanted by taking persona;
interest in their activities.

19. Faculties in institutes must
also take personal interest in the
upliftment and general welfare of
the seafarers.

20. This leads us to the single most
importance fact that can make a
difference: changing the
attitude of the young seafarers.
This is easier said than done as
attitude is a product of a lifetime
of circumstances..

21. How do we do this??
By improving the way we look
at what training is supposed to
impart and whether it is hitting
the target audience.
Training must not be

22. This will be a subtle continuous
effort, so that young candidates
will imbibe the culture rather
than have it rammed down their
throat.

23. Shipping companies, training
institutes, ship’s senior
management must all ensure that
there is a healthy environment
for training the youngsters.

24. Parties to training:
Shipping Companies
Training Institutes
Senior Management level
Officers
Master and Chief Engineer

25. Shipping Companies:
Must have a rigid programme for
training at all levels and ensure
this criteria is strictly followed.

26. Training Institutes:
Must consider training to be
holistic, instead of just another
business.
Holistic training will require
faculties to constantly motivate
and encourage the trainees along
with provided them updated
knowledge.

27. Senior Management level
Officers:
Must consider it their bounden
duty to constantly train and
motivate the young trainees, so
that the training environment is
conducive enough.

28. Master and Chief Engineer:
Must take personal interest in
the training programme as set out
by the company so that the
trainees benefit the maximum.

29. And most importantly the
trainees at all level must keep
themselves alert and ready to
absorb the training imparted to
them.

30. Knowledge transfer requires
expenditure of time and we
should be able to spend the
requisite time, if we are to
produce capable and competent
Officers.

31. Today, there is a real fear of
Indians losing out to others in the
manning market!!
Why??
Not competence, not lack of effort,
not communication…….
But-
Attitude – it covers everything!!

34. Thank you for your attention.