Towards standardization of seafarers education and training

The shipping industry is the first and largest globalised industry. International seaborne trade is conducted by ships which in most part are manned by international crew. In addition ships offer services around the globe and thus many seafarers operate in waters other than the countries were educated, trained and certified. In addition, the crew is required to be trained following the STCW stipulations but application of the curriculum, training period and structure differs among the countries. Thus an interesting situation arises where the crew being certified and trained in one county serves and performs operation and application of his training in another.

The above situation is not in itself problematic. However, the need to assess compliance with the requirements of the STCW Convention (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) is increasing. Thus, there is a need for greater standardization in the training processes and education of seafarers. And within this line a methodology should be created for comparing educational and training curricula and duration in order to move to greater standardization that will ultimately allow the quality improvement of the training and education of seafarers.

This paper examines the seafaring training systems in some of the leading maritime countries and in particular Greece, UK, China and Australia. The primary aim of the examination is to set up the basis for a methodology that will allow comparison of delivery of curriculum and training duration thus providing a basis for greater standardisation.