2.7.3 NAVIGATIONAL TRAINING
There is a sharp increase in the number of accidents related to navigation.
Both groundings and collisions are becoming more frequent. This is despite the
introduction of high tech navigational equipment and SMSs.
One important factor to reverse this trend is to focus on navigational procedures
and on board navigational training. The Master should allow his/her navigating
officers to acquire the experience, under supervision, and provide any relevant
and necessary training in both navigation in dense traffic and ship handling.
The following methods could be used
well in advance of the actual passage, give the navigators the task
of preparing a route the vessel will sail
explain that this will be a supervised training session focusing on
procedures and accuracy
take careful notes of observations made during the exercise
give detailed evaluation and feedback to the officer as soon as possible
following the exercise.
By providing this type of supervised training the Master will gain confidence
in his/her officers, they will become better navigators and ship handlers and
the Master will be more highly respected by his/her officers. It is also very
important to prepare officers who are aspiring to become Masters themselves.
The degree of guidance during training must be governed by the experience level
of the officer.