Training and apprenticeships for the towage industry
Svitzer’s training coordinator, Capt Dai Coombes, and HR representative Wendy Harvey welcome the first five apprentices at the company’s Teeside HQ.
The training of tug crews is becoming a matter of crucial importance, particularly for companies operating shiphandling tugs.
Modern shiphandling vessels working in ports and coastal waters have become more complex, highly manoeuvrable and, above all, they are invariably operated by very small crews. Although such tugs are smaller and more compact than previous generations, the propulsion systems installed are frequently producing in excess of 5,000 bhp and the resulting bollard pull is commonly in the 60 to 80 tons range.
Typically, a crew of three, Captain, mate and chief engineer, are likely to be in charge of a modern, powerful, extremely agile tug fitted with a considerable outfit of electronic controls, instrumentation and communications equipment. The agility of a ‘state of the art’ shiphandling tug alone requires excellent hand and eye coordination and a thorough knowledge of modern propulsion systems regardless of whether the vessel is an ASD tug or a tractor.
Meeting the training needs of a company operating a modern shiphandling fleet is proving difficult when manning scales and shift patterns do not easily allow for training from scratch, which was the traditional method in the days when tug crews of five or six persons were the norm. When provision is made for a trainee with little experience, it has to be as a supernumerary and considerable specialist external college and simulator training is essential.
In order to meet the needs mentioned above, the British Tugowners Association has been working with the Merchant Navy Training Board, the shipping industry’s central body for seafarer education, training and skills, to develop a training programme and qualification structure tailored to meet the needs of the towage industry. The result is a four year ‘Modern Apprenticeship’ scheme that will enable candidates, eventually specialising in Deck or Engineroom skills to acquire the necessary experience and knowledge to gain Maritime Skills Qualifications (MSQs). Those qualifications can be built up over the four years to achieve Officer of the Watch and Engineer status and offer opportunities for further career development.
Britain’s largest towage provider, Svitzer, has embraced the scheme with some enthusiasm and intends to take on five apprentices in May and a further three in September. Their training will commence with a spell at North West Kent College.
After two years, including 12 months sea time, they will become qualified ratings at Level 2. On completion of a further two years, which must include at least a further 12 months sea time and a minimum of 20 to 24 weeks at college, they will qualify at Level 3. They are then qualified as either Officer of the Watch – Near Coastal in vessels of less that 3,000 tons for deck candidates, or Engineer Officer for engines up to 9,000kW for engineering candidates.
Additional training, after the completion of an apprenticeship, can then be undertaken at Level 4 to achieve Tug Master or Chief Engineer status.
It is hoped that a more detailed account of towage related training and qualifications can be provided at a later date.
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