ABS Academy Launches Certification for Training Facilities

The need for advanced seafarer training is becoming critical for owners and operators with crews who work in demanding marine and offshore markets. Because the quality of these programs is so important, ABS is launching a certification service to accredit learning programs and facilities that provide maritime education and training. The certification service will use the recently published ABS Guide for Certification of Maritime Education Facilities and Training Courses, which outlines criteria for acceptance, certification and monitoring of maritime training and education.

As seafaring becomes more about comprehension and compliance, quality training plays a vital role in equipping seafarers to face the changing environment of regulations and technology.A certification program can verify that seafarer training programs are of comparable quality, meet industry and regulatory standards, and promote good industry practices.

The ABS certification program takes into account the IMO Standards for Training and Certification of Watchkeeping (STCW) as well as Intertanko’s Tanker Officer Training Standards (TOTS); the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) Competency Standards for LNG Ship Seafarers; and the Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization (OPITO) standards. 

Seafarer competency has become a very pressing concern in both industries. The need is not just to provide seafarers or offshore crew but to provide competent personnel.

Using this Guide and obtaining certification through this program offers an opportunity for a school or training facility to prove it has met a standard verified by an independent third party.

The certification service covers training courses for marine shore-based or shipboard application, as well as those for the offshore sector. Academies and training centers can be run partially or completely by a State or can be managed privately by shipowners, ship managers, offshore companies, or crewing and manning operators that are recruiting and training seafarers.

There is a critical need to achieve high standards in maritime training and education. ABS will help the global seafaring and offshore communities by certifying facilities and programs to specific criteria to provide a means of identifying effective knowledge and skills transfer competency. Stakeholders in this global industry need to look seriously at raising and enforcing training standards. ABS certification will confirm standards are being maintained and provide credibility for training programs.

The value of this program is that it goes beyond education and training procedures in a quality management system. ABS certification verifies that a learning program, including the learning objectives, training material, instructors’ and examiners’ qualifications and management system are aligned with applicable standards.