School of Nautical Science - Bandari Maritime Academy

On Board Training Seatime

The total time spent working on a vessel at sea, which is not standstill and is actively sailing for cargo transportation. It may differ from country to country depending on the interpretation of the minimum qualification requirements, which is drawn as per the STCW convention (Standards of Training, Certification, and watchkeeping for seafarers) 2010 guidelines. It is an essential metric for career advancement in the merchant navy or the maritime industry as a whole.

After acquiring sea time on a certain vessel, a sea time certificate is issued which must bear the ship’s official seal and the master’s signature to be considered valid. Retaining all your certificates is essential, as they are required for Certificate of Competency (COC) exams, whether you’re aiming to become a deck officer or an engineering officer.

Certificate hold information such as the name and official number of the ship, gross tonnage (GT) of the vessel, date of service (from sign on to sign off), engine type and specifications, including horsepower, total number of days worked, categorized as coastal, inland, or river waterways, description of duties performed onboard, watchkeeping responsibilities, average number of hours worked per day (minimum of 8 hours) and remarks on conduct and professionalism.

Effective onboard training is not just a regulatory requirement but a strategic investment in the future of maritime operations. Some schools offer onboard training to their students as they take their initial sea time for cadetship. Its important for:

Advanced tracking, reporting, and monitoring of cadets at every stage of training for the new seafarers.
Online / offline learning materials and guidance to support the completion of academic studies and training record book.
Instructor support and tutorials until successful completion of first certificate of competency.

Roles for deck and engine officers on board:

Deck officers: Their main roles are navigating and monitoring the ship’s position, overseeing cargo operations, and conducting safety drills and operations.

Engine officers: Maintenance and repair of ship’s engine and machineries, manage fuel consumption and oversee onboard electrical systems.

Challenges faced by seafares:

Working at sea presents numerous challenges that demand both physical and mental resilience from seafarers some of which are:

Physical strain and demand as seafaring often involves labour-intensive tasks.
Adaptability to environmental challenges such as harsh weather conditions while travelling in deep seas.
Seafarers often face personal and health challenges due to the demanding nature of their work and their prolonged periods away from home which causes separation from family and friends inducing feelings of loneliness and homesickness.

The confined living spaces and monotony at sea can contribute to stress, anxiety, and depression among seafarers.
Working on a ship inherently involves certain safety risks, including the potential for accidents, injuries, or even fatalities.
criminalization of seafarers refers to situations where seafarers are subjected to criminal prosecution or legal action because of incidents occurring during their duties at sea.
Piracy poses a significant threat to seafarers, jeopardizing their safety, livelihoods, and mental well-being.
Exploitation of seafarers involves various forms of abuse, including low wages, long working hours, inadequate living conditions, and denial of basic rights.
The lack of shore opportunities for seafarers seeking to transition to onshore jobs presents a significant challenge.

Challenges faced by Kenyan seafarers:

Marine education and training is still advancing thus facing many challenges such as lack of training facilities most importantly a training vessel and inadequate trained and experienced maritime lectures.
Few signed MOUs with ship registries rendering our certificates unrecognizable by many shipping companies leading to lesser recruitments of seafarers especially officers from Kenya.