Updates on Seafarer Training - UK User Meeting

The latest Seagull user meeting, staged in London on November 24th on board HQS Wellington, brought together existing and potential customers for a series of presentations and a follow-up workshop focusing on seafarer training.

Seagull managing director, Roger Ringstad, explained the extensive development work being carried out to ensure Seagull products continue to meet the challenges set by a fast changing industry and new legislation. Several new CBT titles have been released in 2009 and five more will be launched in the first quarter of 2010, addressing issues as diverse as stowaways and the Maritime Labour Convention. In the last 12 months a total of 24 CBT modules have been revised. Mr Ringstad also introduced the new Seagull Training Administrator On-Line. 

Erik Frette, Manager Courses and Quality Assurance, described the rapid rise in demand for onboard training courses through 2009, as ship owners look to control cost in challenging economic conditions.

However, the full day event was more about the interaction between Seagull and it's customers, and how wider industry concerns can be addressed using computer-based training.

Howard Snaith, Marine Director of INTERTANKO, gave a presentation on the problems and procedures relating to Piracy afflicting the whole shipping today. He described the important preparations to be taken and voiced grave concerns that many ships are not taking adequate actions, or reporting their positions to the authorities there to protect them.

Graham Westgarth, President of Teekay Marine Services and Chairman of INTERTANKO, provided an insight into the Competence Management System developed by Teekay. Teekay’s Adrien Luntao followed up by addressing the challenges of implementing and developing the system. The Teekay Competence Management System was developed closely with Seagull, which provides the software platform to administer and track the professional development of Teekay’s seafarers.

Erik Green, of Green Jakobsen, gave an interesting presentation on developing ‘soft’ skill modules to address leadership to ‘get the job done through others’.

The event concluded with a lively interactive workshop, giving delegates the opportunity to offer Seagull technical and operational staff their feedback on systems usage, and to suggest product improvements.

Follow this link to more INTERTANKO presentations.