and staff as well as the syllabus structure of studies, which includes credit points and international maritime ... Engineering, Digital Radio Communication System Engineering, Computer Networks. Engineering, Quality .... Round Cape Horn.
Organisation of the Professional Maritime Education and Training at Faculty of Navigation in Gdynia Maritime University
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this paper is to present the professional maritime education and training which in the end leads to obtaining the Master Mariner license as delivered at the Faculty of Navigation in Gdynia Maritime University. This paper describes the uniform Master of Science syllabus together with postgraduate education and necessary seagoing experience for merchant mariners. The paper also describes the teaching environment consisting of facilities and staff as well as the syllabus structure of studies, which includes credit points and international maritime training requirements. The conclusions are drawn in the light of constantly changing world demand for skilled seafarers and the cost of maritime education and training with due concern to the safety of shipping.
1. BACKGROUND
Gdynia Maritime University has been training seafarers since 1920. This breakthrough year was the beginning of the maritime education in Poland. Previous to that date Polish seafarers had been trained in foreign merchant and navy academies throughout the whole of Europe and the bulk of them coming from Russia, Germany and Holland.
For those 83 years the world has changed rapidly as well as the way the shipping is carried out. The advent of new technologies has been visible but never in such extensive manner as nowadays. The last decades brought us GPS, ECDIS, ARPA, AIS, DP and many more. For those who stopped sailing 20 years ago those abbreviations are hardly recognized or not recognized at all but for those involved in maritime matters now are used on the every day basis. The way maritime education and training was carried out also had to change under the impact of the new technologies. Simulators are main tools in maritime education. With the creation of STCW’78 maritime education and training has been standardized on the worldwide scale. With the introduction of STCW’95 the impact of the new millennium was felt. The STCW’95 three levels of maritime education and training are incorporated into the programmes offered by the Gdynia Maritime University. Education in the Gdynia Maritime University has a long tradition since 1920 and from the beginning based on very well educated, experienced teachers and on programmes connected with the practical onboard training. Since 1920 sailing vessels have been used as practical laboratory in the educating process. The “Lwów” was first sailing vessel, then the “Dar Pomorza” and the “Dar Młodzieży”. Additionally a new motor ship the “Horyzont II” is very well equipped with the very modern navigation and engine equipment. Training on the sailing vessel on the one hand and the modern motor ship on the other gives a wide possibility to prepare our students to work on different types of vessels including the newest generation of the ships. The Gdynia Maritime University started with two faculties, now we have four: Navigation, Marine Engineering, Marine Electrical Engineering and Business Administration, totally 23 specialisations. Our University provides very unique specialisations, very useful for Poland and for our region: Port and Fleet Operation, Repairing Technology of Ship and Harbour Equipment, Industrial Plant Engineering, Repairing Technology Management, Computer Control Systems Engineering, Digital Radio Communication System Engineering, Computer Networks Engineering, Quality Management, e-Business Management, Trade Management. Education in these specialisations takes place in modern laboratories using unique simulators. These laboratories were build and equipped mostly with own resources of the University. Such educational offer satisfies a demand of present labour market in a considerable way.
2. IMPLEMENTATION OF MARITIME EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN THE NAVIGATION FACULTY
The studies at the Faculty of Navigation are conducted in two profiles: Ship and Fleet Operation, and Navigation. We have total over a thousand students. Study takes five years. After graduating from the five-year-studies on Faculty of Navigation students hold diploma of high education (M.Sc. Eng. in Navigation) and, after having appropriate practice on sea-going vessels, students receive Certificate of Watch-keeping Officer (acc. to STCW 78/95 Convention). Students after 3rd year are ready for practice on sea-going vessels. They hold seaman certificate, seaman book and all necessary courses required by STCW 78/95 Convention for seamen. According to Polish Maritime Office requirements students are allowed to provide watch keeping duties. All students during training duties have to fulfil training record book under the supervision of the master of the vessel. All students from Navigation Faculty, when graduating from the studies at our University, are holders of deck watch keeping officer certificate (acc. to STCW 78/95 Convention). University can ensure that owners can employ the best graduate students (officers) from Faculty. Later all officers can pass all courses required by STCW 78/95 Convention in the Training Centre and due to this possibility always can be up to date with the current IMO requirements.
a. Innovative curriculum – from the basics to the expertise
Education on the Navigation specialisation is conducted under Ministry of Education and Ministry of Infrastructure requirements. These requirements are implementing: Technical subjects: mathematics, physics, chemistry, mechanics, computer science, electronics Humanistic subjects: English and other foreign languages, philosophy, marine law, psychology, ethics Maritime
subjects:
navigation,
ship
stability,
meteorology
and
oceanography, astronavigation, marine communication, navigation equipment, ship management, manoeuvring Special courses according to international STCW 95 Convention requirements: medical, fire-fighting, personal safety, survival, rescue courses, not to mention all the above system gives the students wide theoretical knowledge and ensures that after studies, without any problem, they can adopt themselves in different ships systems and also they are very flexible which gives them possibility to find a job on the land in different branches of ships industry.
b. Teaching environment facilities
Process of education in the Navigation Faculty is impossible without such tools like very modern simulators, laboratories and training vessels.
During 5-year-studies students are trained and examined at the simulators and in laboratories:
No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
LABORATORY NAVIGATION LABORATORY (of graphic plot) ELECTRONIC CHART LABORATORY AND ECDIS LABORATORY OF THE MAGNETIC COMPASS DEVIATION AND COMPENSATION COLREGS & WATCHKEEPING LABORATORY I/s.1A/ COLREGS & WATCHKEEPING LABORATORY II/s.201/ NAVIGATING SYSTEMS LABORATORY HYDRO-ACOUSTIC LABORATORY COMPUTER LABORATORY CONTAINERS FASTENING LABORATORY LABORATORY OF THE SHIP’S CONSTRUCTION & THEORY LABORATORY OF SHIP’S STABILITY AND TECHNOLOGY OF SEA CARRIAGE RADAR and ARPA LABORATORY GMDSS LABORATORY LABORATORY OF METEOROLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
DEPARTMENT DN DN DN DN DN DTN DTN DTN DSH DSH DSH DTN DSM DMNO
List of laboratories at the Navigation Faculty.
No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
SIMULATOR RADAR and ARPA SIMULATOR SHIP MANOEUVRING SIMULATOR FULL MISSION BRIDGE SIMULATOR CARGO OPERATION SIMULATOR ECDIS SIMULATOR GMDSS SIMULATOR PLANETARIUM
DEPARTMENT DTN DSM OTC DSH DN DSM DN
List of simulators at the Navigation Faculty.
DN DTN DSH DSM DSAC DMNO OTC
-
Department of Navigation Department of Technical Navigation Department of Ship Handling Department of Ship Manoeuvring Department of Ship Automatic Control Department of Meteorology and Nautical Oceanography Officer Training Centre
In order to achieve best training results we make use of simulators. For example, our full mission ship’s bridge simulator is used on different stage of training from students to the master position or even for very specialized group of trainings.
The Simulator has different ships model for own and target ships, which are highly detailed and include running lights, day shapes, rotating radar etc. Target vessels are: all own vessels including fishing boats, corvettes, cruise vsl., dredging vsl., ferry boats, helicopter, gas carriers, general cargo vsl., life-raft, oilrigs, pilot boat, patrol boats, ro-ro vsl., suppliers, tug boats, yachts and towing barge etc. The superiority of the Sea View ITM visual system in our simulator is based on its ability to incorporate visual enhancements. Special effects include photo-realistic-texturing, mipmapped textures, transparency and transparent textures, wind and wave related 3D sea state model, smooth shading and distance shading and sun angle dependent illumination. Realistic situations are created in exercise areas - ports, channels and coastal areas including: • Accurate depiction of topography • Man made objects such as piers, bridges, buildings, cranes, tanks, etc • Buoys, beacons and lighthouses • Navigational marks To create the exercise further database regarding - Visual, Radar, Depth, Buoy, Chart, and Target ships is required. At the moment we have following costal areas: • Hong-Kong, • Singapore, • Euro-port • Dover.
Full mission bridge simulator
Bridge equipment in the full mission bridge simulator
Radar – Arpa navigation simulator
In our facilities we have two training vessels. This kind of training is very expensive but very effective. There are very few Merchant Marine Universities all over the world, which are training students on training vessels. Our “Dar Młodzieży” (The Gift of Youths) continues the long-standing tradition of its predecessors: the legendary Lwow (1920-1929) and the frigate Dar Pomorza (1930-1982). The steel, full-rigged ship ‘Dar Mlodziezy’ was designed and built in 1982 by the Gdansk Shipyard, Poland for the Gdynia Maritime Academy (Wyzsza Szkola Morska w Gdyni), Poland. She belongs to the numerous groups of large three-masted sail training ships. She is able to obtain a cruising speed of 11 knots (maximum 12.35 kn.). She often sails and participates in various regattas. The Dar Mlodziezy won the Operation Sail '82 in Lisbon and she won the Osaka Sail '97. Her voyages have taken her around the world.
The remarkable trips: 1983 - 84: Osaka World Sail '83 1984: Canada, Tall Ship's Races 1986: Sail Bremerhaven '86 1987 - 88: Bicentenary of Australia, Round the World Cruise, Round Cape Horn. 1992: Columbus '92, Quincentenary of America 1997: Osaka Sail '97, Centenary of Osaka Harbour 1998: Sail IASTA '98
In 1999 motor ship ‘Horyzont II’ was launched for the didactic and scientific needs of Gdynia Maritime University. On board the “Horyzont II” all types of sea training, provided not only for our students but also for students from other maritime educations, are held. The conditions on board the vessel ensure that it is possible to carry out research by the Gdynia Maritime University and many national and foreign, research & development institutes. Our training vessel also makes voyages to the Antarctic Zone and Spitsbergen.
staff
To ensure the highest level of education of our students we are obligated to have a proper staff. The table below presents staff of Navigation Faculty.
Professors
Ass.Prof.
Lecturers
Assistants
Technical employees
Administrative employees
Total
18
21
13
27
17
7
103
Staff of the Navigation Faculty Among the teachers we have professors, lecturers and as well as master mariners and merchant officers.
Name of degree Captains
Number of teachers with a given degree 16
Chief Officers
6
Officers
22 Teachers with merchant officers licences.
c. Students’ competence
During the study students of Navigation Faculty reach professional competence. After third year we can state following competence:
I. Professional Experience 1. not less than three months long navigational practice on board tall sailing ship s/v "Dar Mlodziezy" 2. two weeks radar practice on board m/v „Horyzont II”
During sea practices students are acquainted with watch keeping system and perform deck’s and maintenance works. Every student works in all departments and is familiarised with all work places on the ship, with their nature and unique requirements. The practice scheme deals also with STCW 78/95 Regulations and is designed to allow our students obtaining marine certificate simultaneously with completing final university examination at the University.
II. Qualifications and certificates 1. Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch Certificate (issued under the provisions of Convention STCW 1978 as amended in 1995) 2. Seaman's Book 3. Medical certificate 4. Basic certificates: - Personal Safety Techniques Certificate. - Basic Fire Fighting Certificate. - Personal Safety and social responsibilities Certificate. - First Aid Certificate.
III. Skills IT
MS Office, Internet.
Languages
Good command of English
When completed study, after graduating Gdynia Maritime University students’ competence is as follows:
I. Qualifications and certificates 1. Master of Science diploma 2. Officer on the Watch Certificate (issued under the provisions of Convention STCW 1978 as amended in 1995) 3. Seaman's Book 4. Medical certificate 5. Basic certificates: Personal Safety Techniques Certificate. Basic Fire Fighting Certificate. Personal Safety and social responsibilities Certificate. First Aid Certificate. 6. Advanced Fire Fighting Certificate 7. Medical First Aid 8. Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats Certificate 9. Radar Observer Certificate 10. ARPA 11. GMDSS 12. Oil/Gas/Chemical Tanker Familiarization 13. HAZMAT 14. Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch Certificate (issued under the provisions of Convention STCW 1978 as amended in 1995)
II. Skills IT
MS Office, Internet.
Languages
Good command of English
3. QUALITY ASSURANCE – ISO 9000, NAC
As mentioned the Faculty of Navigation is educating under Ministry of Education and Infrastructure supervision. On behalf of Ministry of Education the National Accreditation Commission is inspecting process of education. This inspection covers: Facilities Programmes - Syllabus Teachers’ qualifications
Number of teachers After certification NAC issues the proper certificate. Ministry of Infrastructure is supervising if the Seafarers Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention is implemented. Also in this case certificate is issued. STCW 95 Convention requires some quality system to be used in the seafarers’ education and training process. Faculty of Navigation has Quality Certificate series 9001.
4. POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING AT OTC – LIFELONG LEARNING
Convention STCW 95 requires lifelong learning in merchant officer profession. There are special courses which our graduates have to make in the future. This postgraduate education and training is conducted by Officer Training Centre.
Officer Training Centre was established in 1969 as a department of the Gdynia Maritime Academy. In 1998 OTC became a separate enterprise based on Academy laboratories, simulators and experienced lecturers in general partnership with the University. Currently Officer Training Centre Ltd. is a private company owned by Gdynia Maritime University. The aim of OTC Ltd. is to organize and conduct: Courses for certificates of competence in accordance with IMO and STCW 78/95 Convention regulations; Specialized courses designed to improve knowledge of marine technology developments; Proficiency and updating courses for senior officers of various specializations.
Training courses are designed to comply with all international requirements and STCW 78/95 Convention and IMO recommendations. Training instructions include lectures, laboratory practice and exercises in practical training areas. The teaching staff is made up of Gdynia Maritime University personnel with high professional experience and highly qualified specialists in the maritime industry. Officer Training Centre in Gdynia Maritime University has been running different courses at various levels for seamen. Our aim is to provide seamen and officers with the highest quality of courses both at the Operational and Management levels. Officer Training Centre offers our officers trainings in various aspects.
5. THE FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
In the nearest future our Navigation Faculty have to implement credit system (ECTS). This will make better possibility to cooperate with many exchanges our students and teaching staff with other universities. Next year Poland will be a member of the European Union which will open completely European market for our graduates. One of our future aims is to open new specialisations, for example such as search and rescue, ships management. Keeping and even increasing the level of education will ensure that our graduates will be wanted by ship-owners to work on most modern ships.
