03Sep

Now available for download: uniform European Training Record Book for inland shipping

We have great news for all inland waterway navigation schools and training institutes: the uniform training record book for the European inland navigation sector is now available for download!

The European Training Record Book is designed is such a way that students and supervisors can easily work with it. There are two versions available, one on operational level and one on management level. The file type is PDF and the document contains ample adjustable input fields and check off lists.

The record book anticipates the European directive which prescribes competence based education and training from January 1st, 2022. The new European Training Record Book provides a manual for trainee-ships and a means for recording the competences and skills learned by new crew members.

In the COMPETING project, seven competencies and the accompanying teaching materials are being worked on, both at operational and management level. These include navigation, ship operation, cargo handling, stowage and passenger transport, maritime engineering and electrical, electronical and control engineering, maintenance and repair, communication and health, and safety and environmental protection. The teaching materials will made available later this year. We will keep you informed on all developments.
19Jan

Uniform European training record book for inland shipping

TRAINING BOOK CONTRIBUTES TO SAFETY AND MOBILTY

There is a new and uniform training record book for the European inland navigation sector. The record book anticipates the European directive which prescribes competence based education and training from January 17th, 2022. The new European Training Record Book provides a manual for traineeships and a means for recording the competences and skills learned by new crew members.
15Jan

COMPETING gives presentation for European Social Partners

This afternoon the project COMPETING is on the agenda of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Inland Waterway Transport. We are happy to share the ambitions of COMPETING and to team up with the European Social Partners (the European Transport Workers’ Federation, European Barge Union and the European Skippers’ Organisation) to create an attractive career perspective to current and future boatmen and boatwomen.

Click here to view the Power Point presentation. 
18Dec

Important role for COMPETING

Caroline Nagtegaal, member of the European Parliament for Renew Europe, foresees an important role for the COMPETING project in making transport more sustainable, she says in an interview published in COMPETING’s newsletter. Caroline recently joint the projects Advisory Board. “We are in the middle of a discussion about making the transport sector more sustainable. As far as I am concerned, inland shipping plays a major role in this.“

‘‘COMPETING will lead to harmonized training,“ states Nagtegaal. “It thus contributes to greater labour mobility. Education should focus on the skills of the future. That way, inland shipping remains an attractive employer and an interesting sector to work in.’’

You can read COMPETING’s newsletter here. 
09Dec

COMPETING in newspaper “Schuttevaer”

In this week’s edition of well known Dutch maritime weekly “Schuttevaer” there’s a nice article about the project COMPETING, as it is now “half way”. Project coordinator Jan Smallegange is interviewed and amongst others Jan underlines the need of harmonization of education.

You can read the article (in Dutch) here.

 
25Nov

Exams tested on simulators

Our partner Maritieme Academie Harlingen is leading the work package on quality assurance and quality control, aiming quality management of examination. Recently model exams were tested on the state-of-the-art simulators at the newly established Maritime Academy inland waterway training & research center in Harlingen. The tests were carried out in the presence of CBR, the Dutch authority on (most) theoretical and practical exams for licenses on the road, in the air and on the waterways.

The CCV division of the CBR is developing and maintaining all the exams for the inland shipping. At this moment the CCV is working on the adaptation of the current exams, in accordance with the new guidelines. CCV also supervises the implementation of certified courses and practical tests.

Katja van den Beld of the CBR: “It was a very educational and fruitful test day! For us an eye-opener on how the practical exams will look like in the future. It will certainly make a contribution to professionalism.”
13Nov

‘’Within Competing we learn from each other’s teaching methods’’

As part of Dutch Maritime Week today (November 13th) we ‘celebrate’ the Day of the  Maritime Teacher. Toby Schouwstra (43) is a teacher in inland shipping for the Maritieme Academie in Harlingen.  

Also voor Toby teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic is a big challenge. “Remote teaching is difficult,’’ he explains. “It’s difficult to give the right attention. Dealing with practical examples is also not easy.  We were able to teach subjects such as Communications and Regulations well through among other things, simulations on students’ computers.’’

Toby sees keeping up with all developments in education as one of the greatest challenges. ‘’But the same goes for keeping up with developments in the industry, inland shipping,’’ he adds. ‘’A good skipper is not always a good teacher – and vice versa.’’

According to Toby, the influx of young people who opt for inland shipping shows that there is sufficient attention for inland shipping. ‘’But young people would like to be broadly oriented in the maritime world. The Day of the Maritime Teacher is, I think, essential as a network and sharing knowledge, teaching material and teaching methods. All maritime disciplines come together on this day.’’

Toby is familiar with the project Competing. ‘’That project is very important for inland shipping, especially when it comes to the duties of skipper and sailor,’’ continues Toby. ‘’Within Competing and is sub-projects we notice that we all have the same passion, but the  descriptions of it differ. As teachers we learn a lot from each other’s teaching methods and school levels in relation to the outflow functions.’’