New ICS training resource to plug on board technology gap
(Posted on 14/04/22)
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has launched a new resource designed to help ship operators recruit and develop on board personnel who are fully prepared to meet the demands of today’s high-tech modern vessels. The ICS On Board Training Record Book for Electro-Technical Officers (ETO Cadets) is an essential training companion for ETO cadets and their employers and gives seafarers operating under any flag a universally standard approach to track their training and career development.
According to the latest ICS BIMCO Seafarer Workforce Report, when recruiting STCW certified seafarers, companies reported the highest levels of difficulty in ETO roles. They also warned of a shortage of officers with technical experience, especially at management level. In addition, electro-technical officer cadets have the lowest graduation rate of all the officers (74.4%), and 70% of maritime education and training institutions saw a need for improving electrical, electronic and control engineering training provision.
The On Board Training Record Book for Electro-Technical Officers (ETO Cadets) helps shipowners and managers ensure compliance with STCW Convention regulations and helps ETO cadets understand the training required to develop their skills and competencies. Supervising officers can use the record book to make an objective evaluation of cadets’ training, and it provides employers with the confidence that cadets are developing the correct knowledge needed to be successful in the role.
Gordon Boyd, Senior Lecturer and Chartered Electrical Engineer acting as consultant to South Shields Marine School was a member of ICS’s expert group of reviewers. Gordon, who has developed and delivered electrical training courses for various major shipping companies and marine training providers including the Carnival group, BP and Shell, says:
“This record book and the systems to which it relates are essential for enhancement of technical progress, standardisation, and improvement of safety in the marine industry. It will help with consistency across marine electrical skill sets which will be beneficial to both employers and ETOs/electricians.”
ICS Senior Adviser of Manning & Training, Arvind Natrajan, also comments: “It is only recently that such highly skilled seafarers are in great demand due to the increase in ships built with complex electrical and electronic systems. The training tasks in the new Training Record Book will ensure that cadets make the best use of their seagoing service by highlighting their strengths and identifying areas for further training.”
The IMO STCW Convention requires that an ETO cadet’s seagoing service must be properly structured and recorded in a training record book approved by the maritime administration responsible for issuing certificates of competence. It cites the ICS On Board Training Record Books as an example of such documentation. For further information on the new On Board Training Record Book for Electro-Technical Officers (ETO Cadets) please visit ICS Publications.
Latest News
Biomar delivered to AtoB@C Shipping as production of last vessel of series begins
(Posted on 20/06/25)Biomar has been delivered to ESL Shipping's subsidiary AtoB@C Shipping on June 16, bringing the number... Read more
Smart Ship Hub digital platform deployed for Great Eastern Shipping Company fleet
(Posted on 20/06/25)Great Eastern Shipping Co. Ltd. (GESCO), India's largest private fleet owner of bulkers and tankers,... Read more
Baltic Exchange introduces monthly audits to improve Baltic index quality
(Posted on 20/06/25)Baltic Exchange has launched a new quality control mechanism to support its ongoing audit policies for... Read more
INTERCARGO report: Safety gains continue but security threats emerge
(Posted on 15/06/25)INTERCARGO, the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners, reports encouraging progress in bulk... Read more
Marcura and Sedna Partner to simplify maritime workflows
(Posted on 15/06/25)Marcura and Dataloy Systems have announced a new phase in their long-standing strategic partnership... Read more
Ageing fleet drives surge in number of maritime incidents, says DNV report
(Posted on 06/06/25)According to DNV’s latest report, Maritime Safety Trends 2014-2024 - Preparing for future risks... Read more
Two Damen Combi Freighters 3850 launched for Fast Lines Belgium
(Posted on 06/06/25)The second of three Damen Combi Freighters (CF) 3850 has been launched in China for Fast Lines Belgium... Read more
Columbia: Diversity’s ‘forgotten twin’ inclusion must be priority
(Posted on 06/06/25)Inclusion is every bit as important as diversity in ensuring that shipping becomes a truly welcoming... Read more
Postfix for shipbrokers made simple
(Posted on 02/06/25)AXSMarine, a pioneer and market leader in the provision of advanced solutions and market intelligence... Read more
Veson Nautical and Great Eastern Shipping go live with IMOS Platform
(Posted on 30/05/25)Veson Nautical, a global leader in maritime data and freight management solutions, and The Great Eastern... Read more
