Technology innovations seen in maritime training schools

Technology innovations seen in maritime training schools
GENIVI FACTAO March 27, 2019 https://www.manilatimes.net/technology-innovations-seen-in-maritime-trai...

The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) said new trends in the global shipping has forced maritime education and training institutions to innovate to meet the demands of the seafaring industry.

Mayla Macadawan, NMP deputy executive director, said the global developments would correspondingly require new skills requirements for seafarers and this would also demand for innovations on the part of maritime education and training (MET).

Macadawan’s presentation, “Innovating MET: Responding to Societal Change,” highlighted the current and emerging trends in shipping involving global connectivity, rapid technological advancements, autonomous shipping and digitalization.

“These advancements will eventually result to a need for seafarers who are capable to effectively perform present and future roles, with new sets of skills for hybrid, and upskilled responsibilities,” she said.

She added that they must possess good decision-making in some elements of the voyage to shift from on board to onshore, with the advent of autonomous shipping. The dramatic change in the roles and functions of the seafarers in the future may require a new training regime.
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Maritime training institutions were seen upgrading their technology and requiring the use of simulators in high intensity training and assessment, with a syllabus that builds situational awareness. Students and trainees will be exposed to repeated critical situations onboard, such as crisis-response scenarios of progressively increasing levels of risk and complexity.

She said within a period of time individuals would attain satisfactory level of competence through this high intensity training and assessment.

“The use of simulators, which were designed to replicate actual equipment onboard, through the high intensity training concept may even be considered as effective replacement to reduce sea service,” she explained.

The innovations in MET could also include integration of knowledge, skills and understanding (KSU) of automation in basic maritime education and development of short training course for existing seafarers.

There will be significant training in information technology, with emphasis on cyber technology; use of e-learning and e-assessment
platforms; development, production and dissemination of Open Educational Resources for maritime instructors and assessors. There would be synergy among local and international stakeholders.

Other upgrades were in research-based development of MET programs; evaluation and verification of MET programs by stakeholders and certifying bodies; and harmonization and standardization of MET programs.

NMP participated in the 2019 MET Conference conducted in Manila last Feb. 21 to 22, 2019 with the theme “Seafarers of the Future: Trends in Maritime Education and Training.”

The activity was hosted by the Maritime Industry Authority in partnership with the International Association of Maritime Universities, aimed to encourage an interactive discussion among stakeholders that will result to conclusions and preferable actions gearing toward further improvement of the Philippine MET System.

NMP, as a maritime training and research agency, remained on guard for new developments in MET as this is crucial considerations in the accreditation, validation and improvement processes of its training programs.

NMP continuously endeavors to precipitate and capitalize in program offerings and ensures that measures are undertaken to keep abreast with evolving standards and other industry requirements.