Seafarer Apprenticeship
Brian Scarano
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for contributing to the overall safe and effective operation of the vessel. A seafarer carries out watchkeeping duties; maintaining the safety and security of the vessel, cargo, and personnel on board; and undertaking a range of practical seafarer tasks covering rope work, anchoring and mooring activities and operations. They must adhere to safe and environmentally responsible working practices and international regulations and will have a range of security duties. A seafarer must work safely in enclosed spaces and at heights and must respond to vessel emergencies; administer emergency first aid; carry out fire prevention and fire-fighting duties; use survival techniques in the water; and operate survival craft and rescue boats.
Seafarer regulations are set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and are known as the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) and are put into effect in the UK by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
This Apprenticeship provides for full competency in the role of a seafarer (deck rating) occupation. Apprentices wanting to advance their career may also obtain an Able Seafarer (Deck) certificate from the MCA, so they can lawfully work at the Able Seafarer level onboard a vessel. This would require a further 12 months sea time and sits outside of the apprenticeship.
Career options are many and varied - depending on how a seafarer wants to specialise in future they will need to gain additional "endorsements" (certificates from the MCA) - such endorsements also sit outside this Apprenticeship.
Every apprentice without exception will need to pass strict medical requirements. This test includes, but is not limited to, severe deafness or difficulty communicating by radio or telephone, eyesight or colour vision that does not meet standards, and conditions that limit mobility and stamina.
English and maths qualifications form a mandatory part of all apprenticeships and must be completed before an apprentice can pass through gateway. The requirements are detailed in the current version of the apprenticeship funding rules.
Rigorous robust and independent assessment undertaken by an apprentice at the end of training to test that the apprentice can perform in the occupation they have been trained in and can demonstrate the duties, and knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) set out in the occupational standard
An Able Seafarer (deck) works as a member of the navigation department on board ships and vessels of different types and sizes, carrying out watchkeeping duties; maintaining the safety and security of the vessel, cargo and personnel on board; and undertaking a range of practical seafarer skills covering ropework, anchoring and mooring activities and operations.
An able seafarer will work a shift rota over a twenty four hour time span. He/she will work on his or her own and as a member of a team - which is likely to include seafarers from a range of different nationalities. He/she must adhere to safe and environmentally responsible working practices and international regulations, without endangering themselves, others or the marine environment, and will have a range of security duties. An able seafarer must be able to work safely in enclosed spaces and at heights, and must also be able to respond to vessel emergencies; administer emergency first aid; carry out fire prevention and fire-fighting duties; be able to use survival techniques in the water; and be able to operate survival craft and rescue boats. The qualifications and certification achieved by an able seafarer means he/she will be able to work on board any type and size of ship in any part of the world. Seafarer regulations are set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and are known as the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) and are put into effect in the UK by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
The training for an able seafarer will need to include a period of time being taught basic practical seafarer and watchkeeping skills and related underpinning knowledge and theory, interspersed with application of these skills during onboard practice and to comply with international and national sea time requirements. Coupled with required periods of leave, it is expected that minimum completion time of the apprenticeship will be around 18-24 months (including sea time).
Apprentices will need to be able to pass the medical entry requirements as defined in international regulations (i.e. the ENG1(4) Seafarer Medical Certificate, including eyesight requirements).
Individual employers will determine their own selection criteria and will need to be confident that potential apprentices have the aptitude and ability to assimilate the learning and develop the required practical skills and competences, and to work in a multicultural environment on board a vessel, which may be away from home for extended periods of time.
Seafarers are employed in both the Merchant Navy and the Royal Navy and the vessels they work on vary considerably in their size, type, and use. The broad purpose of the occupation is to support the vessel arriving at its destination or meeting another objective (such as unloading cargo), in line with the requirements set out by the ships Master.
English and Maths GCSE (or equivalent) grade D or 3. If you do not meet the Maths and English requirements, The Marine Society will assist you in gaining your Functional Skills qualification prior to End Point Assessment.
A seafarer apprenticeship can open up a range of career options and opportunities for progression within the maritime industry. With further training and experience, an apprentice can progress to become a deck officer, they can work their way up the ranks from third officer to second officer, chief officer, and ultimately, captain. Seafarers may choose to specialise in specific areas such as dynamic positioning, marine surveying, maritime law, maritime safety, or maritime research. Specialisation allows for career growth in niche sectors and can lead to higher-ranking positions or shore-based roles.
Apprentices without Level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking their end point assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement the apprenticeships English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3 and British Sign Language qualification are an alternative to English qualifications for whom this is their primary language.
BALTIMORE -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced a litigation settlement for $625,000 and comprehensive injunctive relief in an employment discrimination case against the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education (Paul Hall Center) and Seafarers International (SIU) due to age bias in an apprenticeship program.
The apprenticeship program, which is based in Piney Point, Maryland, trains individuals wishing to become mariners in the U.S. Merchant Marine. Upon completion of the apprenticeship program, graduates are guaranteed jobs as unlicensed seamen onboard a SIU contracted vessel. EEOC asserted in the lawsuit that the Paul Hall Center and SIU refused to admit individuals at least 40 years old into the apprenticeship program in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). EEOC charged that applicants who were at least 40 were sent letters advising them that they must be between the ages of 18 and 25 to apply. In addition, admissions representatives coded the applications of many of the individuals over 40, specifically noting they were too old.
The lawsuit was resolved following an interlocutory appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which challenged the validity of an EEOC regulation stating that apprenticeship programs are covered by the ADEA. On January 7, 2005, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that EEOCs regulation was a valid extension of the ADEA. EEOC initially filed the suit (Civil Action MJG-02-3192) on September 30, 2002, in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, after first attempting to reach a voluntary pre-litigation settlement.
Under the terms of a consent decree resolving the matter, entered by U.S. District Judge Marvin J. Garbis on November 14, 2005, the Paul Hall Center and SIU have agreed to pay a total of $625,000 to be distributed to a class of individuals who were denied the opportunity to attend the apprenticeship program due to ageism.
In addition to the monetary relief, the Paul Hall Center and SIU have agreed to comply with the ADEA, which includes not imposing any upper age limit; posting a notice concerning prohibitions against discrimination; and training employees responsible for recruiting, screening and admitting new apprentice program participants in federal laws which prohibit discrimination. The Paul Hall Center and SIU have also agreed that its admission practices will be under continued monitoring by the EEOC for a period of five years.
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