Education & Training

The MNTB has responsibility for setting and approving the education and training frameworks for new entrants into the Merchant Navy. Current frameworks cover:

• Foundation Degree (FD), incorporating the Scottish Professional Diploma (SPD)
• Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND)

Each framework has been designed to meet international regulations laid down by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and enshrined in the Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).  As well as the international regulations, the frameworks are underpinned by, and referenced to, the industry’s National Occupational Standards.  In addition, several universities offer MNTB approved Honours degree programmes for new entrants.

Nautical colleges and universities involved in seafarer education and training develop their own programmes to meet the framework requirements for deck, engineering and electro-technical officers and seek formal approval of them by the MNTB.

An important and mandatory part of initial seafarer programmes is the sea time component. MNTB Training Record Books (TRB) have been developed to enable the sea time to be appropriately structured and organised.  The TRB defines the onboard tasks that must be completed to provide evidence to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) of seafaring competence at Officer of the Watch, Engineering Officer of the watch and Electro-technical Officer level.

Engineer officer training programmes include Workshop and Maintenance Skills, that have been identified by industry and which must be developed and achieved by each engineer trainee as part of MNTB-approved programmes.

The MNTB has produced guidance materials to assist companies and organisations involved in programme delivery. This includes the ‘Planned Training at Sea– guidance for companies and seagoing officers’, which can be downloaded free of charge.

Also available is an Information Sheet on the new Electro-Technical Officer Foundation Degree Programme and certification.

The MNTB, in conjunction with the MCA has developed the criteria for STCW and International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) mandatory courses. In addition, course criteria have been developed for non-mandatory courses that meet specific industry needs.

Government funding is available from the Department for Transport (DfT) to support seafarer training. Known as SMarT (Support for Maritime Training), the funding is available through the MCA, and administered on their behalf by an organisation called MATSU.