I hope you are all well and enjoying the New Year!

As you may know, the 2019 Maritime Insights Database (MarTID) survey is currently ongoing and open for participation. This annual survey and the resulting annual reports (available freely at www.MarTID.org) provide critical data on maritime training practices and trends useful to every segment of the maritime industry. As such, it is important that every seafarer, trainer and administrator complete the survey and ask their colleagues to do the same. To facilitate a broader response, this year the MarTID steering group opted to both shorten the survey and to offer three, targeted versions: one for vessel operators, one for training institutions and one for seafarers.

With the 2019 survey currently running, it is useful to examine some notable insights revealed by the inaugural 2018 report:

It turns out that there is one message that stands out most: that we are, right now, in the throws of a major training transformation in the industry. And although there was anecdotal evidence of this transformation in the past, the MarTID report presents clear data that must be understood by everyone in the maritime community – especially those involved in training.

That data reveals a clear transformation away from traditional maritime training practices, and toward modern learning technologies such as internet-based eLearning and simulation.

There are important messages here for all operators. It will affect the industry across a variety of domains – operational, regulatory, budgetary, and of course training. Understanding this trend, the evidence for it and the reasons for it allows vessel operators, training centers and even seafarers to both prepare for and take advantage of the transformation. Let’s look at the data.

The Findings

The trend toward modern training tools and practices in the maritime industry did not begin yesterday. Over many years the industry has slowly become more and more aware and accepting of new tools and techniques, despite our reputation for favoring traditional techniques. This, in itself, is an important message to take away – that despite our reputation, the industry is indeed capable of implementing new ideas when they are well supported by evidence.

The most obvious evidence of the trend toward the adoption of learning technologies is the degree to which these technologies have already been adopted.

Given how recently they have become available, it is remarkable to note that they (simulation and eLearning) have already been adopted by roughly 90% of respondents.

Compare this to the situation of the early 1990’s when simulation and eLearning barely existed. This is clear evidence of a rapid transformation.

But even more important than the current level of use is the rate at which these technologies continue to be adopted and more deeply implemented:

A whopping 70% to 80% of MarTID survey respondents plan to increase their usage of simulation and internet-based eLearning in the upcoming year.

Of all training techniques surveyed, these two were the clear stand-outs in terms of plans for increased usage. It is similarly interesting to note that only 3% to 6% of respondents indicated that they planned to decrease their usage of those same technologies. No other training tool came close in terms of plans for increased use, and every other technique is slated for a larger decrease among respondents. So not only have we experienced a significant transformation already, but that transformation is, in fact, still in full swing.

What Does this Mean for Maritime Training?

What inferences can we derive from these numbers?

First, it is reasonable to infer that respondents are highly satisfied with their use of these technologies. There is already a high degree of use, and those respondents plan to increase their usage. Additionally, only a very small number of respondents have plans to decrease usage next year.

Other inferences can be derived by comparing respondents’ plans for learning technologies with those of more traditional maritime training practices, such as job shadowing and classroom-based training.

With job shadowing and classroom-based training, respectively 26% and 23% of the respondents would expand usage in the coming year. Equally interestingly, for classroom training, 23% of respondents indicated that they expected to do less next year.

According to this data, the usage of classroom training is flat while every other model surveyed is on the increase. This is significant as it indicates a trend away from traditional models and toward modern technologies.

This trend will cause changes, and perhaps even disruption, over the coming years. Currently, the most-used model of training is classroom-based training; 92% of respondents indicate they use it a medium to high amount and 43% indicate that it is their primary training method. According to the data, this is going to change.

Knowledge training has been shown to be more efficient and effective using online models where the training inherently adapts to each individual learner and learning style. This is in opposition to face-to-face classes where the timing of the lecture and the experience the trainees have is uniform. This model does not account for individual differences in the trainees and therefore it is more likely that the outcomes will be poorer and vary more widely. Thus, the move toward online learning for knowledge acquisition portends a future of better trained seafarers.

Addressing Training Challenges

In addition to a future with potentially better training outcomes, a move to technology-enabled training will also, in part, address the top three training challenges listed by MarTID survey respondents.

The most commonly cited challenge is the presence of financial constraints.

Although implementing an eLearning program does not come for free, once developed it presents a much more efficient (and less expensive) training model. This is especially true in cases where it removes or reduces the need to transport trainees or instructors to training centers.

The second and third most commonly cited training challenges are lack of training courses and lack of qualified training personnel.

Fortunately, for knowledge-based courses there is a growing body of eLearning content creators and a growing library of good quality web-based learning materials. Additionally, we have seen some of our customers to collaborate on the creation of online training materials and share the costs. They do not see improved safety as a competitive advantage but rather a rising tide that lifts all ships. We have also seen, in other industries, large and mature open-source libraries of free online learning materials. This movement is especially advanced in higher education where multiple initiatives provide quality learning materials to be freely used by individuals and deployed by organizations. There is no reason this cannot happen in the maritime industry.

Of course, learning technologies will not solve all training and assessment problems. It is true that web-based eLearning can improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of knowledge training, and that simulators can greatly support the acquisition of skills. However, no training program can be successful without the presence of an expert trainer who is available to interact with the trainees, reinforce skills, share experiences, and mentor students. So, at no time in the foreseeable future will the need for expert, face-to-face instruction disappear. It will, however, change and be more effective.

Contribute to the 2019 MarTID Report!

The MarTID database will grow in breadth and depth with your participation, shining a light on global maritime training trends, approaches and successes. It requires community involvement to succeed. Your participation, approximately 20 minutes of your time, is vital to the upcoming 2019 MarTID Report and highly appreciated.

• For operators: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019MarTIDOperator
• For training institutions: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019MarTIDMETI
• For seafarers: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019MarTIDSeafarer

Thank you!