Computer-based trainers (CBT) Seagull, awarded Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) approval for its new ship security training package
The new training package is in full compliance with the Manila amendments to the STCW Convention and Code and will be available during September of this year.
The revised STCW, which came into force in January this year, introduces more stringent requirements for onboard security training, with particular provisions designed to ensure seafarers are properly trained in case their ship comes under attack by pirates.
Under the Manila amendments to STCW, all seafarers need approved ship security training, varying according to the level of responsibility of the seafarer. All seafarers must receive generic security awareness and familiarisation training, while those with specific security related roles need appropriate training for their role.
To ensure compliance, Seagull has developed two new CBT training levels - Level 1, covering security-related familiarisation and awareness, for all seafarers and Level 2 for seafarers with designated security duties. It has also updated its existing Ship Security Officer (SSO) course, which is the designated Level 3 of the Seagull Security On Board training system, in line with the Manila amendments.
The new courses have also been certified by classification society DNV through the SeaSkill programme.
Anders Brunvoll, Seagull Senior Course Instructor, says: “Getting NMA approval is very important for us, as we have in the past issued Ship Security Officer (SSO) certificates on behalf of NMA, the Norwegian flag state. The new courses have also been certified by classification society DNV through the SeaSkill programme. “This was a challenging process, which effectively required us to start again from basics and produce security training which has been fully checked by DNV against the revised STCW,” adds Mr Brunvoll.