Training activities during the lockdown

Every challenge comes in a package with new opportunities. It was yet again proved by the COVID-19-related lockdown. Anglo-Eastern Ukraine Training Center is coping with challenges and using the opportunities to ensure continuous seafarers’ training and improvement.

In Ukraine, the restrictive measures were imposed in mid-March. In the early period of quarantine, it was still possible to carry out training courses in small groups (up to 8 people) in a regular manner. During that period, taking body temperature, wearing face masks, quartz treatment of the classrooms, and additional sanitary measurements integrated into the training routine.

But as the situation worsened, stricter social distancing requirements were introduced, forcing courses to move online, with webinars serving as the key method of delivery. Identical to offline course programmes, both in terms of length and scope, the only additional requirements were largely technical in nature: a decent computer, stable internet connection, and a quiet location for learning.

The new online environment brought about many positive aspects – some of them are likely to remain in place even after that sunny day when the pandemic is over, and the entire world is back on track.

For instance, all hardcopy forms and tests became electronic, thus saving paper, ink and filing spaces, with the added advantage of automatically calculated test scores.

Distant learning made it possible and easier for the seafarers living outside of Odessa or even Ukraine to enroll for the training courses.

The trainers themselves enjoyed the variety of online activities, organized by the internationally acknowledged organizations, such as DNV GL, UK P&I, NI and others. Another valuable experience was the webinars, carried out by their colleagues from TCs in Mumbai and Delhi, as well as in-house webinars, conducted by the Hong Kong Office.