Ocean Technologies releases 50 titles in Chinese

(Posted on 29/07/21)

Acknowledging the importance of China as a crew-supply nation, Ocean Technologies Group has added an additional 50 of its maritime training programmes in Chinese taking the overall number of Chinese localized titles offered to just under three hundred.

The titles cover a wide range of subject matter ranging from safety, environmental, operational, maintenance and general well-being programmes.

According to data collected from shipping companies for the recently published BIMCO/ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2021 (previously known as the Manpower Report), Chinese seafarers make up the second largest number of STCW seafarers in the world merchant fleet.

Also, a recent white paper published by the Chinese Ministry of Transport states that China had almost 1.58 million registered seafarers at the end of 2018, an increase of 6.2% year on year.

“Although English language skills remains vital for seafarers to acquire and demonstrate, something our Marlins brand is an acknowledged industry leader in, of course, we have had an increasing volume of requests from our customers to provide multi-lingual options where practicable to ensure seafarers have access to essential safety critical information," said Raal Harris OTG’s Group Creative Director.

Ben Bailey, Director of Advocacy, Mission to Seafarers agrees, “In the Seafarers Happiness Index, crews often talk about the importance of accessing information in their native language. Whilst English is universally recognised as the ‘language of the sea’, crews report that it is easier to understand critical information or express opinion if they can do so in their mother tongue. It’s why we at The Mission to Seafarers ensures that crews completing the Index can do so easily, and why we are developing translations of our WeCare programmes that are available via the OTG platform. Offering translated courses makes for an altogether more inclusive way of learning, and ensures all students have the tools to succeed.”