The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) is keen to hear the views of serving seafarers on certification training as part of its modernisation efforts.
It has launched two surveys - one for engineering officers and another for navigation and deck crew – as part of the MCA's review of Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping convention (STCW).
The purpose of the latest questionnaire is to 'engage with industry professionals, especially serving seafarers about the current STCW mandatory training requirement and its importance for today’s navigating officers.'
The MCA says it wants to ensure that seafarers can receive and maintain the 'level of knowledge, understanding, professional competence and performance standard suitable and relevant to today’s industry and ever improving navigating/technical equipment needs.'
Seafarers and industry professionals are encouraged to participate in the MCA surveys before their expected closed date on 15 January 2020:
The navigation and deck officer survey asks for information on the type of vessel sailed on, rank, Certificate of Competency (CoC) held, whether training was at a UK college or not, and whether competencies specified are still relevant for today's requirements for 'engineering officer of the watch unlimited' - including fuel, ballast, pumping and machinery operations, electronic and control equipment, maintenance and repair, pollution prevention and firefighting procedures, as well as operating emergency lifesaving appliances, applying first aid, legislative and safety knowledge, and maintaining the sea worthiness of the ship.
The navigation and deck officer survey asks for information on the type of vessel sailed on, rank, Certificate of Competency (CoC) held, whether training was at a UK college or not, as well as whether competencies specified are still relevant for today's requirements on navigational watchkeeping – this covers bridge resource management, as well as other navigation, passage planning, electronic systems of position fixing and navigation, and emergency procedures.
A Nautilus Federation survey launched in June on the Day of the Seafarer will close on Thursday 12 December 2019.
Feedback will help the Nautilus Federation member unions provide the voice of seafarers in any potential future review of STCW.
Nautilus technical and professional officer David Appleton urged all seafarers to take part in the surveys, as the proposed review of STCW has the potential to affect all current and future maritime professionals and it is 'vital' their voices are heard.
Tags