Making the difference
Education is the gradual process of acquiring knowledge through learning and instruction. It is as much about the development of personal attributes through upbringing and observation as it is about gaining knowledge through textbooks. It is a lifelong process; we never stop learning, whether through formal education (degree courses, Continuous Professional Development, etc) or through the ‘University of Life’ (observation and experience).
Training is the development of skills or knowledge through instruction or practice. If correctly applied, it is a planned systematic development of the aptitude, knowledge, understanding, skill, attitude and behaviour pattern required by an individual so that he/she can adequately carry out a given task or perform in a particular job.
Together, education and training are about the development and maintenance of the human component of ship systems: the mariner. However, the education and training of designers, surveyors, trainers etc is equally important, not least knowing how to specify and deliver the human component of ship systems, and having an up to date knowledge of ‘the ways of the sea’.
The competence of a mariner will depend not only on good and effective education and training, but also on his aptitude, knowledge and understanding of the subject, on the availability of opportunities to develop his skills and, ultimately, his experience.
Competent people make the difference - they make the ship safe.
The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) recognises the importance of establishing detailed mandatory standards of competence necessary to ensure that all mariners are properly educated and trained, adequately experienced, skilled and competent to perform their duties. However, in the way of all international Codes, the standards of competency set out in STCW are a minimum set. Furthermore, the maritime workforce is now multinational and multicultural. This may allow differing interpre- tations of international guidelines and inconsistent standards in training and education. Indeed, there are still numerous reports, mainly anecdotal, of poor standards of education and training in the maritime sector.
In fairness, there are owners, managers and manning agents who invest in the education and training of their mariners to beyond the minimum criteria set out within the STCW Code - but are they in the minority?