Bridging the Gap between Theory and Practice in the Maritime Environment: Implications for Educators

摘要

Teaching courses on the maritime environment involves addressing theoretical and practical aspects of the sea environment, including safety and pollution issues, as well as daily marine-related shipboard operations. According to recent statistics, human error appeared to contribute to 80 per cent of accidents at sea. It is important that conscious attempts are made to bridge the gap between theoretical instruction and practical application in order to avoid such accidents. Introducing more sea time for officers and cadets during their training could broaden the way they perceive theoretical concepts and their practical application because it would bring about a deeper level of understanding. The use of marine simulators combined with traditional instruction appears also to be an effective and comprehensive method of facilitating learning. Marine simulators not only offer close-to-reality training in many important safety and operationally-related tasks without any physical risk to the ship or trainee, but they also allow for an assessment of competency to be conducted. Without any hands-on proof of ability to perform tasks, competency can only be assumed not demonstrated. Finally, shipping companies should be encouraged to cooperate and contribute to the scholarship of students by giving them an opportunity to undergo proper training either onboard or through the use of marine simulators. The steps taken are more likely to ensure that highly competent seafarers are employed onboard.