Marine Log - March 2009 - (Page 32) we may have qualified mariners, but each type of vessel requires unique operating skills and a fair amount of these skills don’t cross over. You can’t move a harbor tug operator used to working in close quarters alongside today’s megaships one day and have him towing 730-foot barges on a half-mile of 2-1/4 inch wire the next. There is different training and experience involved,” explains Cosgrove. “Before the new STCW regulations, academy graduates with a year of experience could test for a 1,600-ton master’s license and qualify as a towing master,” explained Cosgrove. “But now you must have practical experience onboard towing vessels if you are interested in holding a license for them and Crowley can help.” The company has set up several programs including AB to Mate, Tankerman Person-In-Charge and Port Engineer training, all of which are designed to provide a career path through the Crowley organization for qualified marine personnel. Crowley also offers regulatory, customer and company training and provides for some of the licensing requirements. Crowley works closely in cooperation with union schools and third party vendors as well as with its own in-house regulatory training group on its training programs. The AB to Mate program can typically take four to seven months and in some cases can leave the enrollee without income during that training period. Crowley has developed its program to help six to twelve ABs per year meet these requirements. This costs the company about $75-100,000 per trainee, but builds morale and loyalty among those that are able to benefit from it. The company relies on captains, operations managers and others to recommend potential candidates for this program. Crowley in cooperation with the SIU’s Harry Lundberg School at Piney Point, will help enrollees prepare for tests, meet licensing requirements, provide meals and living quarters, etc. while paying their salary for the duration of the program. The goal is to prepare for and pass the Coast Guard license exams so mariners continue to have a way to advance within the company. Cosgrove and his group are working on a similar program that would allow a utility to progress to a tug chief engineer. The technical services team along with the engineering leadership team is home to yet another program that allows crewmembers to work their way onshore into a port engineer position. This development program mentors marine engineers equipping them with the skills they need to move into the port engineer position. Program participants are given real life training and work alongside seasoned port engineers in an effort to help each person reach their goals. www.marinelog.com 32 MARINE LOG MARCH 2009 http://www.csdsealingsystems.com http://www.csdsealingsystems.com http://www.marinelog.com
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