Seaways - July 2023

Professionals recognise the need to continue to learn through experience, sharing with others and formal training. As an educational charity it is no surprise that Continuing Professional Development (CPD) remains central to our activities and is a key feature of our Strategic Plan.

Captain John Lloyd FNI Chief Executive

Education and leadership

In this issue of Seaways we explore different facets of CPD and what it might mean at different times in your career. I am very pleased we are able to support the professional development of our members through the special relationship we have with the Ocean Technologies Group and their remote learning opportunities. Our own NI Academy takes a different approach with on-line but ‘tutor-led’ learning for a wide range of courses specifically designed to meet the needs of the mariner. Many of these are offered with significant discounts to our members – so make the most of these offers as a real member benefit. CPD is an essential component of career growth and I hope you will consider how you identify and develop your own learning journey.

Leadership
While the debate about whether leaders are born or made shows no sign of coming to an end, there is no doubt that for most of us, increasing our knowledge of individual human behaviour and organisational culture can help us become more effective. Our programmes offer superb insights into helping those committed to finding better understanding of key issues. These insights make both the leaders and their organisations stronger.

We have been pleased to demonstrate our own industry leadership through a developing relationship with the International Jack-up Barge Operators Association (IJUBOA). This organisation is committed to improving safety in the operation of jack-up barges (also known as ‘lift-ships’) and have developed specialist qualifications in this area.

After many months of hard work and alignment of expectations, I was pleased to join the AGM of IJUBOA in Southampton to announce a collaboration between the NI and IJUBOA which will see us providing audit services of their Barge Master qualifications and managing the independent assessment and certification services for them This broadens our scope of interest in the offshore energy sector and especially in the renewable energy effort that is attracting so much interest.

NI events
One other way we demonstrate our own industry leadership is through our fantastic events. We now have four significant events planned for 2023 including the AGM and technical seminar which will have been completed by the time we go to press with this edition of Seaways.

But there is more to come. We will be hosting an event on board the Trinity House Vessel Galatea in September this year during London International Shipping week. It promises to be a superb occasion held in the shadow of Tower Bridge and co-hosted by the UK’s Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB), Trinity House and of course The Nautical Institute.

Following the theme of providing support for a maritime career we will be looking closely at the cadet training experience, to be followed by two further sessions on CPD and opportunities for second careers in maritime respectively.

CPD is an essential component of career growth and I hope you will consider how you identify and develop your own learning journey.

Later in September, on the 20th and 21st, we will be with our training providers and other offshore energy specialists in Egypt exploring the key components of competence and assessment in the energy sector. With the evolving demand for clean energy it is likely we will have a significant interest in renewable energy and how these resources can be safely harnessed.

Finally, in November, we will be in Singapore, working closely with the Singapore Maritime Academy and the Singapore Branch in developing a conference looking, once again at the cadet experience. In particular we wish to get feedback from cadets and newly-qualified officers about which parts of their curriculum they have found the most important professionally – and which the least important.

We will extend this into discussions about the effective use of simulation and how it can be used to support effective learning and competence. We look forward to seeing you there. If you would like more details on any of these events, drop me a line at any time: [email protected]