Seafarer Qualifications and Training Survey Report

Despite the fact that shipping urgently needs to know the real thoughts of those serving on ships today, the modern merchant mariner is almost completely out of sight and mind. Regrettably, instead of dialogue and proper feedback, there has long been only speculation and second-guesses filling in for the unheard voices of those out at sea.

To counter this dearth of information online recruitment company Shiptalk Recruitment Limited is conducting a human element research initiative to find-out exactly what serving seafarers think about their lives at sea. The initiative takes the form of five separate surveys running through late 2007 into 2008 and this, the 3rd report in the series looks at "Seafarer Qualifications and Training".

The findings make compelling reading for anyone involved in seafarer training at sea today, showing vividly how active seafarers view how well their professional training courses have prepared them for standing watch and a long and safe career at sea. The report provides essential information for Captains, cadets or anyone contemplating a sea-going career.

This the third in the series of five Life at Sea Surveys attracted 545 responses from seafarers. The survey sought to canvass current seafarers opinions on modern day seagoing and shore based training practices, the positive or negative effective that STCW95 has had on training, the standard of competence displayed by their peers. The survey also sought to unearth areas of training into which the respondents felt more emphasis was required.

The findings make compelling reading for anyone involved in seafarer training at sea today, showing vividly how active seafarers view how well their professional training courses have prepared them for standing watch and a long and safe career at sea. The report provides essential information for Captains, cadets or anyone contemplating a sea-going career.

List of Tables and Charts
Preface and Acknowledgements
Overview
How can you access and use this survey?
1.0 INTRODUCTION
2.0 METHOD
3.0 SURVEY CHARACTERISTICS
4.0 SUMMARY AND OBSERVATIONS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION
4.1.0 Responder Profile
4.2.0 Ratings/Crew
4.3.0 Officer Trainee/Cadets
4.4.0 Deck/Engineering Officers
4.5.0 Captains/Chief Engineers
5.0 SURVEY RESULTS
5.1.0 RESPONDENT PROFILE
5.1.1 Gender
5.1.2 Nationality
5.1.3 Current Age of Respondents
5.1.4 Experience
5.1.5 Rank and Department
5.1.6 Type of Vessel
5.1.7 Flag of Vessel

A. RATINGS/CREW
A.1.0 Pre-Sea Training
A.2.0 Shipboard Familiarisation Training
A.3.0 Career Development
A.4.0 Presence of Officer Trainees
A.5.0 Officer Competence Levels
A.6.0 Safety Concerns

B. OFFICER TRAINEE/CADET
B.1.0 Employment Link
B.2.0 Company Training Programs
B.3.0 Pre-Sea Training
B.4.0 Shipboard Familiarisation Training
B.5.0 Onboard Training - Supervision
B.5.1 Shipboard Training Officer
B.5.2 Captain/Chief Engineering Officer
B.5.3 Ship’s Officers and Crew
B.6.0 Structure of Onboard Training Program
B.6.1 Satisfaction with Onboard Training Program
B.7.0 Onboard and College Training Evaluation
B.7.1 Rating of Officer Cadetship
B.7.2 Areas in which Training is Lacking
B.8.0 Company Feedback on Training Progress
B.9.0 Effect of Training on Long Term Career

C. DECK/ENGINEERING OFFICERS
C.1.0 Training - Preparation for Standing First Watch
C.2.0 Perceptions of STCW95
C.3.0 Areas Lacking in Own Officer Training
C.4.0 Areas Lacking in Company Training Policies
C.5.0 Continuous Professional Development
C.6.0 Standard of New Recruits
C.7.0 Standard of English Language
C.8.0 Shipboard Training Officers
C.9.0 Officer Competence Levels
C.10.0 Safety Concerns
C.11.0 Basis for Safety Concerns
C.12.0 Adequacy of Shipboard Handover
C.13.0 Keeping up-to-Date

D. CAPTAINS AND CHIEF ENGINEERS
D.1.0 Perceptions of today’s officer trainees/cadets and their training
D.2.0 Perceptions of STCW95
D.3.0 Areas Lacking in Company Training Policies
D.4.0 How Does Today’s Training Measure Up?
D.5.0 Standard of New Recruits
D.6.0 Standard of English Language
D.7.0 Officer Competence Levels
D.8.0 Safety Concerns
D.9.0 Basis for Safety Concerns
D.10.0 Adequacy of Shipboard Handover
D.11.0 Keeping up-to-Date
D.6.0 FURTHER RESEARCH

Capt Thomas Brown BSc (Hons) MNI

Following fourteen years of deep sea experience on all vessel types and in all ranks Capt Brown graduated from Plymouth University with a BSc (Hons) in Marine Technology and Maritime Law before spending seven years working at a senior level in the claims department of a leading International Group P&I Club.

As well as being the current Chairman of Shiptalk Recruitment Limited, Capt Brown is the Managing Director of Seacurus Limited a leading UK based marine credit insurance brokerage.

Capt. Brown was assisted by Emma Brown BA MA with the statistical analysis.