19.02.2015 Views

Latvian Maritime academy

Latvian Maritime academy

Latvian Maritime academy

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

esponsibility level of senior officers or master of a ship – bachelor, Master of Science, or 2 year study<br />

programme in vocational school?<br />

So called monovalent MET system, when separate programs leading to navigator or ship engineer<br />

certificate of competency are provided, exists today in a majority of countries. Bivalent (dual-purpose<br />

officers) MET system exists today in a minority of countries.<br />

The sequence of school and sea time also differs in many countries:<br />

Sandwich or step-by-step MET system. A two-year or a three-year first step study programme,<br />

including seagoing training, leads to operational level certificate of competency. After seagoing<br />

experience a seafarer as a holder of operational level certificate of competency needs to come back to<br />

school for one or two years next step studies, leading to management level certificate of competency.<br />

Front-ended MET system. Study programme includes full theoretical training necessary for<br />

management level certificate of competency and practical training, necessary for operational level<br />

certificate of competency. After graduation no additional studies at school are needed to get management<br />

level certificate of competency, only seagoing experience and providing evidence of competence are<br />

required.<br />

Some countries follow post-experienced type MET system when practical training is going after<br />

studies.<br />

Other countries follow pre-experienced type MET system when programmes include a<br />

component of practical training before studies.<br />

Levels and content of seafarers’ competence in accordance with STCW 78 convention<br />

STCW 78 convention gives some definitions and provide clarifications regarding competency [12]:<br />

Certificate of competency means a certificate issued and endorsed for masters, officers and<br />

GMDSS radio operators in accordance with the provisions of chapters II, III, IV or VII of this annex and<br />

entitling the lawful holder thereof to serve in the capacity and perform the functions involved at the level<br />

of responsibility specified therein.<br />

Function means a group of tasks, duties and responsibilities, as specified in the STCW Code,<br />

necessary for ship operation, safety of life at sea or protection of the marine environment (Figure 1).<br />

Convention STCW 78 for both departments (Master and deck department and Engine department)<br />

sets three levels of responsibility:<br />

Support level (ratings);<br />

Operational level (officers);<br />

Management level (senior officers, master).<br />

For each level of responsibility of each department convention STCW 78 describes relevant<br />

specification of minimum standard of competence, identifying corresponding functions onboard and<br />

specified competences (tasks, duties and responsibilities).<br />

Specification of minimum standard of competence<br />

Function<br />

Function<br />

Function<br />

Function<br />

Competence<br />

Competence<br />

Competence<br />

Competence<br />

Competence<br />

Competence<br />

Competence<br />

Competence<br />

Competence<br />

Competence<br />

Competence<br />

Competence<br />

Figure 1. Structure of specification of minimum standard of seafarers’ competence<br />

Functions specified for master and deck department officers are:<br />

Navigation at the management level;<br />

42

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!