International Journal
on Marine Navigation
and Safety of Sea Transportation
Volume 4
Number 4
December 2010
465
1 THE OBJECTIVES OF MARITIME
EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENTS
The licensed officers' staff is educated and trained
by maritime colleges, academies and universities.
The training and education are effected for both
operational and management levels. The Interna-
tional Convention on Standards of Training Certifi-
cation and Watch-keeping for Seafarers (STCW-
78/95) and STCW-95 Code established uniform in-
ternational requirements to the training of ship
watch-keeping officers and ratings Chapters II, III
and IV of the STCW-95 Code present the mandatory
minimum requirements to the competence of every
candidate for the acquisition of Certificate of Com-
petence enabling a person to occupy officers' posi-
tions on board.
The procedures to prove the officer's achieve-
ments of the required competence standard are de-
fined and the criteria for evaluating the competence
are listed in the corresponding tables of STCW-95
Code.
In combination with on-board practical training
the above knowledge and proficiency enable a can-
didate to occupy corresponding officers' positions on
board.
The curricula of the maritime educational estab-
lishments were adjusted in accordance with STCW-
78/95 Convention requirements and since 1998 ap-
plied in most states. IMO developed model courses
of training masters, deck and engineer officers
(Model courses 7,01, 7.02. 7.03 and 7.04.) facilitated
the transition to this order of training.
At the same time the opinion of the international
maritime community, expressed at the conferences
on maritime education in Sweden 2000 [4], in Bel-
gium 2002 [5], and etc., shows that the minimum
knowledge and proficiency requirements listed in
STCW-95 Code are compulsory but not sufficient to
satisfy the needs of the modern merchant marine.
The rapid development of fleet, specialization of
ships, fitting them with complicated equipment,
automation and electronics require the presence of
specialists fundamentally competent in natural and
technical sciences on board a ship. An educational
establishment shouldn't be aimed at giving a certain
fixed scope of knowledge for the operation of a
modern vessel.
This knowledge will get outdated still before a
prospective officer graduates. A maritime specialist
should be prepared for being capable of understand-
ing all the innovations and learn to operate them by
himself. That is why the curricula of advanced mari-
time higher educational establishments include not
only the minimum scope of knowledge and skills,
which could have been covered in two years, but al-
so two additional years of studies (bachelor's level)
ensuring a broad general education.
Still another additional course of studies is re-
quired for the occupation of shipboard positions at
the management level.
MET System in Ukraine
M.V. Miyusov & D.S. Zhukov
Odessa National Maritime Academy, Odessa, Ukraine
ABSTRACT: It is believed that Ukraine is one of the largest seafarers’ suppliers to the world maritime fleet.
The vast and diverse system of waterways and lakes in addition to the tradition of seafaring and maritime his-
tory which dates back more than 200 years create the necessary basis for the government which considers it
more important to provide graduates with the full education rather than merely to produce 'vocational' special-
ists. Moreover Ukraine has already made some major steps on the road to Euro integration having taken part
in the Bologna process. Therefore it’s not surprising that on 15 January 2005 a new resolution of the Cabinet
of Ministers of Ukraine was approved. The Odessa National Maritime Academy(ONMA) was the first to vis-
ualize it by means of the new-presented system of MET.
466
It's worthy to note, that the specific character of
work on board - long periods at sea, reduced crews,
hard work, sometimes driving those on board to
stress situations and fatigue accumulation requires
from a ship officer for the successful work with peo-
ple to be well prepared in humanitarian aspects, that
is to have a high cultural level, knowledge of psy-
chology, the laws of a person's behavior in a group,
ability to predict and eliminate conflict situations,
optimize the relations among the seafarers united in-
to one crew.
The majority of maritime higher educational es-
tablishments, especially those in European countries
adopted the above educational system for training
marine officers. A wide scope of education is neces-
sary to ensure safe navigation in modern conditions.
We understand that to fit his future work on
board, a seaman should not only have a high level of
spiritual development, but also be well hardened
physically. That is why maritime educational estab-
lishments devote much attention to the physical
training of the future seafarers.
Besides regular general physical training and
achieving the compulsory standards provided for by
curricula, favorable conditions are provided for
training in different sports up to the choice of a
young man. All sorts of sports competitions at dif-
ferent levels are greatly encouraged by the admin-
istration.
The quality of preparation of the seamen for their
future work on board ships largely depends on the
lecturers and instructors; in compliance with the
STCW Convention those are to have the proper
qualification for different types and levels of educa-
tion and training.
Lecturers and instructors specialized in profes-
sional disciplines should have not only an appropri-
ate maritime education but also a sufficient sea ex-
perience. That is the matter of especial importance,
as it enables them besides delivering a theoretical
course, to share their acquired experience for train-
ing the cadets (students) to solve routine operational
problems in practical way, fostering proper care and
attention to their every day work, responsibility for
the fulfillment of their duties on board.
Unfortunately the payment of lecturers and in-
structors is much lower than that of seafarers on
board.
That is why it is very difficult to attract properly
qualified experienced maritime industry practicians
still not of old age to the academic work in mari-
time educational establishments.
Besides not every experienced practician is capa-
ble of resultative lecturing or practical training.
Taking into account the above problems IMO has
developed special methods of preparing maritime of-
ficers to academic career which help them to learn
methods of training the young people both on board
and shore.
One of the ways of attracting experienced practi-
cians, first of all masters and chief engineers to aca-
demic activity may be their invitation to the en-
gagement in the educational establishments during
the periods of their stay on shore between the con-
tracts concluded for the work at sea. A solution of
the problem would also be the arrangement of a
temporal refresher employment of the lecturers in
the position of dubbing officers or their temporal
employment to the crew staff positions on board
commercial ships, but that requires certain funding,
which an educational establishment is mostly short
of as well as understanding and support on the part
of shipping companies.
2 MET IN THE UKRAINE
The two principal factors - the alarming situation
with the employment of population and low rates of
pay for labor on the one hand and the high standards
of education and training of marine officers in
Ukraine on the other hand predetermine favorable
opportunities of training competitive specialists
for the international labor market in the maritime
educational institutions of Ukraine. Mostly part of
the graduates from ONMA were employed for ser-
vice on board ships under foreign flags. However,
many specialists after gaining invaluable practical
experience in Ukrainian companies seek employ-
ment by foreign shipowners. The laws on the em-
ployment and on the higher education currently m
force in Ukraine enable a graduate of a higher edu-
cational establishment to effect a free choice of the
employment place. The latter fact gives the gradu-
ates of the Maritime educational establishment the
opportunity for the employment by foreign shipping
companies.
Ukraine, as a maritime power, being a party to the
STCW-78.95 International Convention has under-
taken to constantly maintain the quality of training
seafarers at the level of international standards.
467
SACC – State Assessment Commission of Competency, OOW - Officer in charge of the Watch,
COC – Certificate of Competency, TRB – Training Record Book.
Figure 1. The Unlimited Certificates of Competency (Deck) – Referring to the STCW 78/95 and Resolution of the Cabinet of Min-
isters of Ukraine No 38, 15
th
of January 2005 - “Regulation on the Conferring the rank upon the Ukrainian Seafarers”.
The entrance after the secondary school level, 11 years (for 9 years see scheme No.2)
Maritime Academy
4 years, or 2 years
for Junior Specialist.
Reg. III\1,
12 months Sea
Service documented in
TRB
Maritime College
3 years, Reg. III/1,
12 months Sea
Service documented
in TRB
Marine High School
3 years, Reg. III/1,
12 months Sea Service
documented in TRB
Bachelor of Science
COC OOW
SACC Examinations
Re-
fresh and
Upgrade
STCW
Sea Service: 18 month as OOW on board ships
Refreshment and Upgrade STCW Courses
SACC Examinations
COC Chief Officer
Sea Service: 24 months OOW on board Ships, Includ-
ing 12 Months as Chief Officer
Refreshment and Upgrade STCW Courses
SACC Examinations
COC Master
Every 5
years
Junior Specialist
Maritime College 2 years
Every 5
years
468
Figure 2. The System of Education in Ukraine
0.5-year
Academy or University
Master of Science
Complete Higher
Education
Specialist
Complete Higher
Education
Bachelor of Science
General Higher
Education
Junior
Specialist
Incomplete Higher
Education
11 years
Complete Secondary
Education
(Secondary School)
9 years
Basic Secondary Education,
(Secondary School)
1.5 year
Academy or University
1.5 year
Academy or University
4 year
Academy or University
2 years
Academy, University or College
2 years
Secondary Education School
3 years 4 years
College or Marine School
469
The achievement of these standards has only be-
come possible as a result of creation of a proper na-
tional system of education and training, refresher
and upgrading courses and courses of additional rel-
evant education and training for officers. This sys-
tem comprises today 10 Maritime higher educational
establishments (academies, universities, institutes
and colleges) and about 40 maritime training cen-
ters, most of them being fitted with advanced simu-
lator base and modern training technologies.
Odessa National Maritime Academy is the basic
educational establishment of Ukraine. It educates
and trains wide profile maritime specialists for both
national and international labor market. All the con-
ditions are created in the Academy for training spe-
cialists meeting the requirements of the international
standards of shipping industry, requests of national
and foreign shipping companies.
ONMA amounts about 11000 undergraduates of
seafaring specialization with yearly graduation more
then 1000 people. The Academy comprises faculties,
institute, colleges and training center, not only in
Odessa but in other cities of Ukraine.
Enrollment based on the competitive choice of
candidates having complete secondary education 10-
11 years).
Term of studies of a specialist having complete
higher education -5.5 years;
Provision of on-board training not less than 8-12
months depending on the special field;
Fundamental general engineering training;
High level of educational technology provision;
High rating of the academic stuff;
Combination of studies and research work of the
cadets, development of creative skills;
Arrangement of studies and even' day life of ca-
dets in the conditions resembling shipboard envi-
ronments and routines;
Compliance with the requirements of the interna-
tional conventions;
System of continuous post-graduation education
for marine officers for maintaining a high level of
competence, familiarization with new technologies
and new control methods.
The last decade reforms of education in Ukraine
initiated the transition to the stepped system of train-
ing specialists, providing for four qualification edu-
cational levels: junior specialists, bachelor, spe-
cialist and master. According to the conception of
education and professional training of ship crew
members, approved by the Ministry of Education
and Science of Ukraine, the graduates of the educa-
tional establishments at the level of junior specialists
and bachelor shall occupy on board the positions of
officers in charge of a watch at the operational level
and those at the level of specialists and masters at
the management level in compliance with STCW-
95.
3 PRACTICAL TRAINING OF CADETS
STCW-78/95 Convention (Section B - II/1) notes
that the mandatory periods of seagoing service are of
prime importance in learning the job of being a
ship's officer and in achieving the overall standards
of competence required. The programme of on-
board training should be an integral part of the over-
all training plan, The improvement of quality and
systematic character of practical training are facili-
tated by an individual "Training Record Book" pro-
posed by IMO. It will provide unique evidence that a
structured programme of on-board training has been
completed, which can be taken into account in the
process of evaluating competence for the issue of a
certificate. The Convention provides for two identi-
fiable individuals who are immediately responsible
for the management of the programme of on-board
training. The first of these is a qualified seagoing of-
ficer, who, under the authority of the master, should
organize and supervise the programme of training on
board, the second should be a person nominated by
the company, referred to as the company training of-
ficer. He should have an overall responsibility for
the training programme and for coordination with
colleges and training institutions.
The company should ensure that appropriate pe-
riods are set aside for completion of the programme
of on-board training and bear the whole of the ex-
penses for practical training of the prospective mari-
time officers to be further employed by the compa-
ny.
A certain part of the shipping companies act in
the compliance with the requirements of the Con-
vention, taking an active part in training maritime
specialists, place cadets on their ships for on-board
training, nominate officers responsible for the
management of the programme of on-board training,
bear the burden of expenses for the provision and
transport to embarkation place and (for repatriation)
of cadets. It's necessary to note that such activity not
only facilitates good practical training of the pro-
spective officers but also a current operation of ships
with the help of the cadets which perform any feasi-
ble works on board and form part of a watch. At the
same time the company has a chance to evaluate
prospective officers they intend to employ after the
graduation.
Unfortunately far not all companies find vacan-
cies for cadets, and are engaged in their training on
470
board. It would be desirable to work out an agree-
ment at the international level recommending the
shipowners to place cadets on every ship.
It is worthy to note that the European Conference
on Employment and Training 2001 held in Tallinn
by LSM Company(Lloyd Ship Management) i n-
sistently recommended shipowners to reserve min-
imum two vacancies per ship for cadets and also to
invest money in education and training of seamen
"invest in people" [3].
ONMA has gained an experience of direct contact
and cooperation with the shipping companies, which
make a choice of last-year cadets of the Academy,
support them in the final stage of their education
and in this way form a reliable manning reserve of
deck and engineer officers, to be employed by these
shipowners after their graduation.
The results of the active position of the Academy
in the international co-operation are not limited to
the provision of our cadets with the vacancies for
practical training on board foreign vessels with sub-
stantial remuneration for their labor and social
guaranties: but they extend to concluding direct con-
tracts with shipping companies providing for the fi-
nancial aid to the Academy.
In 2008 above 3500 cadets of the Academy com-
pleted the programs of their on-board training in-
cluding 2000 on board ships belonging to foreign
shipowners.
The policy of the company provides for the even-
tual employment of the cadets after their gradua-
tion in case of successful completion of two terms of
shipboard practical training on board the ships be-
longing to the Company. More then 100 contracts on
the on-board training have been signed with differ-
ent shipowner Company.
4 CONCLUSION
A comparatively short period of time is necessary
for building a fleet, but a longer period is required
for bringing qualified officers to maturity. A com-
mon concern of crewing companies, maritime insti-
tutes and training centers is the assurance of the
high level of seafarers' competence.
The shortage of qualified officers also requires
the revision of the policy of shipping companies.
Comparatively insignificant investments in educa-
tion, training and upgrading of seamen within the
framework of appropriate programs of personnel
formation and control would give priority in provi-
sion with staff to those companies which assure
their future and "invest in people".
REFERENCES
O'Neil W. IMO - Globalization and the Role of the Role of the
Seafarer IMO News. no. 3, 2001, p. 4-5.
Yamamoto II. On the reason and Significance of the Core Con-
cept of I AMU
Lloyd Ship Management, July/August, 2001, p. 3,35,36,38.
Solving MET issues chartering the course into 21 century.''/
Eleventh Conference on Maritime Education and Training
(IMLA 11). 21-25 August 2000, World Maritime Universi-
ty, Malmo. Sweden.
STCW'95: evaluation of the implementation by maritime train-
ing centres /The International Maritime Educational Con-
ference. 14-15 March 2002, World Maritime Institute,
Ostend. Belgium.
The law of higher education of Ukraine/ www.rada.gov.ua
Bologna Declaration/
http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/educ/bologna/bologn
a.pdf
Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the Europe-
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