Occupational standards for shore-based ship management
The MNTB has recently reviewed its training programmes for seagoing Officer Trainees. One area that has been neglected in the past has been shore-based ship management. The MNTB has therefore developed a suite of National Occupational Standards covering shore-based ship management occupations.
The Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) has recently reviewed its training programmes for seagoing Officer Trainees. The introduction of Foundation Degrees (Professional Diplomas in Scotland) in 2006 and, from Sept 2009, revamped Higher National Certificate and Higher National Diploma courses has ensured that a comprehensive range of programmes up to full Honours Degree are available.
One area that has been neglected in the past has been shore-based ship management. The MNTB has therefore developed a suite of National Occupational Standards (NOS) covering shore-based ship management occupations.
Occupational standards describe the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to undertake a particular task or job to a nationally recognised level of competence.
The shore-based ship management standards cover the activities carried out by marine, technical and engineering superintendents, fleet managers, and operational staff.
The suite covers: employing and managing marine personnel for vessel activities; ensuring vessels are procured, maintained, supplied and equipped for service; establishing and administering systems to ensure quality and continuity of service; safety and security of operations; and personal and professional management skills to support shipping services.
Once formally approved, the standards will be available to inform existing or new qualifications and for a whole range of workforce development purposes. This may involve the development of degree courses to provide development and progression opportunities for existing staff as well as a career pathway for those looking to come directly into this area of the shipping industry. In addition, organisations currently offering qualifications covering ship management activities will be encouraged to use the NOS as reference points to update their awards.
The MNTB is currently talking to a number of bodies that may be interested in developing their qualifications in line with the occupational standards. In addition, we are looking at providing a means to formally recognise awards of this nature through an endorsement process that will support the validity of the awards to the industry and to those seeking a career within it.
In addition to their use in qualifications, occupational standards provide excellent workforce development tools such as: providing clear and concise information in recruitment adverts; developing job descriptions; defining training needs; identifying training gaps; informing appraisal processes, and defining progression routes and requirements.
We will eventually have in place standards to enable the industry as a whole to recruit, train and provide defined and recognised career progression routes, linked to relevant qualifications, for all those who wish to make the shipping industry their chosen profession.
Once formally approved, the occupational standards will be downloadable from: www.ukstandards.org
For further information about the work of the MNTB go to: www.mntb.org.uk