Chem-eL Training Improves Crew Competence

In the chemical tanker shipping sector, the need to maintain skills and understand the latest regulations is critical to the safety of the vessel, cargo, crew and environment. ABS is helping mariners employed by Malaysian owner MISC Berhad and its group of companies to stay safe and compliant using the Chem-eL eLearning package.

The project was managed and developed by ABS in close cooperation with a maritime interactive technology provider, IDESS I.T., from the Philippines, with input from MISC’s training organization Akademi Laut Malaysia (ALAM). The Chem-eL program was delivered to MISC after eight months of rigorous shipboard and shore-based testing, including several reviews by chemical tanker professionals.

Recognizing that web-based learning has proven valuable in training personnel in remote locations, MISC requested an eLearning program that could be used within its company fleet as well as for students at its own training facilities. The objective was to have a training program that would allow personnel in remote locations to have access, and as workload pressure increases on seafarers, to have a tool that would keep vital assets running smoothly.

Chem-eL supports safe and compliant shipboard operations by making the necessary training resources available in a flexible way. eLearning can greatly help officers and crew by allowing learning to take place at each learner’s own pace, catering to his or her own learning style and allowing repetition and reference when required, helping to embed important concepts and underlying principles.

Targeted training improves the ability of the crew to work more safely and in compliance with regulations. When MISC wanted to develop a training package for use at ALAM and across the company, they knew that ABS had the technical and educational expertise to support their aims and deliver a package that fulfilled their needs.

Course topics include an introduction to chemical tank practice, chemical and physical cargo properties, hazards and hazard control design, cargo containment and handling systems, safe working practices, pollution prevention and ballast operations. Tank cleaning operations, risk management, the ship to shore interface, emergency, security and custody transfer aspects relating to carriage of liquid chemicals in bulk also are covered. Taken as a whole, the course provides complete coverage of the knowledge needed by personnel to understand chemical tanker operations.

Chem-eL is the first program that provides step-by-step guidance to learners from basic understanding to advanced stages of chemical tanker operations.