DNV on the manning crunch: "Alarm bells should've been ringing for years."

The peculiar arithmetic of training, competence, certifications and such, still an unsolved equation

By Ryan Skinner (email)

Consider the steady adding of new rules and requirements an unstoppable force. Consider the pool of available seafarers the immovable object. What happens when the two meet?

Corners get cut, that's what happens. A captain recently told me in an email that "in fact, 10-15 per cent of seafarers are not up to their task." Thomas Jacobsen of DNV Seaskill relates to me a quote he heard from an executive at a major shipping company: "We're promoting captains far too early."

Both of these assessments are symptomatic. What they mean is this: The people who are supposed to have A, B and C, often only have A and B. Some only have A. That's not even considering E, or experience, which is probably lacking across the board.

I asked Jacobsen and DNV Seaskill, one of the few outfits designed to provide certifications of the quality of a training regime, whether the unstoppable force and immovable object mentioned above were driving more companies to use services like theirs to ensure that training really is training.

Jacobsen told me yes and no. Starting in 2004 when DNV Seaskill started up, business boomed. Then the recession hit. Business dawdled. The company's put its focus in particularly training-intensive businesses like offshore operations, or complex tonnage.

It's understandable that business slowed. There were less ships to be manned during a recession. But I'd be worried that anyone involved with training would take short-cuts during a recession to protect the bottom line. That erosion of culture may remain eroded after the market picks up again.

There are high points and low in training today. Jacobsen cites Teekay, which has pro-actively used its Seaskill certification of training courses as part of a management system to create seafarer loyalty, and build confidence with charterers.

On the other hand, DP training is generally problematic. A DP certificate comes after one course, 30 days at sea and then another course. But, as Jacobsen points out, many of those courses have no exams and there's no proof the student was even awake. And those 30 days at sea are too often spent far from the DP operator's work station.

Both Jacobsen and my captain source conclude on a pessimistic note. Jacobsen feels little will really shake up the industry until the ephemeral "big accident". The captain fears a stricter training regime, in line with heightened demands, would dry up the pool of potential seafarers.

I have a radical suggestion: Why not associate higher training standards with greater status? It may be unreasonable, but why aim just to clear the low bar instead of reaching for the high one?

Comments

[Barista Uno]

The problem with seafarer training is that it's become too commercialised. This certainly is the case in Manila, probably in other places as well. Those in the training business are after speed and quantity. Certificates from DNV and other audit bodies are just wall decorations. The situation is exacerbated by shipowners putting pressure on manning agents to supply them with officers with the requisite COCs.

Fastfood chains like McDonald's and Shakey's at least have quality control.

[Steven Jones]

Interesting stuff. However, not entirely true on the DP front.

DP courses are to have assessment built in by the end of the year.

Also there is more to the DP certification route than mentioned above. There is the small matter of 6 months DP Watchkeeping after the second shorebased (Advanced/Simulator) course.

Sea-time which brings with it it's own set of problems - but we shan't go into that here.

[Mark Pointon]

With regard to DP certification, Mr Jacobsen is being disingenuous. He is quoting historical issues that have been addressed by the Nautical Institute in consultation with the DP industry stakeholders through the work of the NI's DP Training Executive Group (DPTEG).

From January 2011 it will be compulsory for ALL trainee DPO's to sit an assessment on the Basic / Induction course

The DP Operators training scheme enjoys the support of industry bodies and meets fully the requirements of STCW 2010. DPTEG is addressing the issues and developing the training scheme to ensure it continues to provide the DP industry with well trained competent operators.
Hard decisions are going to have to be taken, But I for one am confident that the bar will be raised without the ephemeral "big accident" having to happen

The Institute has accredited 58 training centre's to date and has issued in excess of 12500 DP certificates. On that basis, surely we are doing something right!

[Ryan]

Just to follow up, I made sure DNV and Jacobsen are aware of these comments, and they've promised to address them here (hopefully this week)....

[Mark Pointon]

Silence is golden !!