Ocean Training launches new courses
At this year’s Seawork International, Ocean Training Online launched two new courses and saw a rise in enquiries from both leisure and commercial customers.
The company launched its new MCA Celestial Navigation course at the show, as well as its new MCA Master 200gt course.
Ted Miley, principal, Ocean Training Online, told Maritime Journal: “The IMO Manilla 2010 amendments now allow students to undertake courses via Distance Learning, so the MCA looked to us to provide such courses so that Britain would be first in the world to follow this track. This means that students can now study at home or at sea.”
The final MCA exams must be taken at an approved MCA college but because the students can study in their own time and pace wherever they are in the world, the knowledge can be gathered over a period of time (usually 12 months for a course).
“It is always a great pleasure to be at boat shows and to meet potential customers face to face,” Mr Miley said.
Ocean Training Online’s RYA/MCA Yachtmaster course was particularly popular at the show since it’s the “stepping stone from being a leisure sailor to that of a commercial officer in the merchant navy”.
“We have had several good discussions with other companies marketing our products and within a week of the show, we have secured one such contract,” Mr Miley added.
The company now provides courses in the following: MCA Officer of the Watch (Yachts up to 3000gt) Navigation and Radar, MCA Officer of the Watch (Yachts up to 3000gt) General Ship Knowledge, MCA Master 200/OOW 500 and MCA Celestial Navigation. It told MJ it’s also looking at further courses for the training of Merchant Navy officers in the future.
“Many a leisure sailor wishes to be in command of a large ship with four stripes on their shoulders – Ocean Training Online is a conduit to make this happen with our Blended Learning programmes,” Mr Miley concluded.
By Rachael Doyle
