Euronav selects Seagull E-TOTS for entire fleet

Euronav Ship Management has chosen Seagull’s electronic version of the Tanker Officer Training Standard for use on all of its very large crude carriers. Having first been delivered to Euronav offices in August 2009, the Seagull e-TOTS is now on board 30 ships. Intertanko introduced the TOTS system, which goes beyond STCW requirements, to establish voluntary standards to ensure tanker officer competence for general shipboard operations, as well as those for specific tanker types such as crude, product and chemical tankers. The aim has been that these voluntary standards should become the norm for a competent tanker officer. Developed to meet an Intertanko request to achieve a paper-free training support tool, Seagull’s e-TOTS allows crew members to take a more flexible approach to learning, using a secure Seagull ID and offering the ability to download information and tests. Seagull has a formal agreement with Intertanko to provide e-TOTS. Capt. Jan De Brabandere, Euronav Ship Management Marine Manager said the company had been vindicated in its selection of the Seagull e-TOTS package. “It was the right decision,” he said. “In the beginning, it was a little difficult to work through the system, but with the help of Seagull, we have no complaints. Quite a large number of our officers have completed the whole thing, while others have started and are partially certified by Masters and Chief Engineers, having completed CBT tests. “At first there was a resistance to change but our Masters showed they were willing to go for it and people are catching on fast.” Capt. De Brabandere said that a management review carried out by Euronav in mid-July had concluded that the e-TOTS approach would become part of the promotion process from later in 2010. The e-TOTS package includes three detailed “Time in Rank Modules”, which are electronic training record books. Each record book is designed to incorporate tasks and questions that need to be signed off by the authenticating person. These tasks should be coordinated, controlled and verified by the company. Each record book is designed for a specific level of rank and discipline. A fourth generic training record book covers time with company, which must be defined by each individual. “We need to know on the spot how familiar officers are with operational and safety issues,” said Capt. De Brabandere. “Often knowledge can be vague, but this offers a method to check off against, and to verify through a CBT test on a specific item. Only if the candidate scores 75% or more can a pass be granted.” The individual officer’s Training Record “Book” is held in electronic format in Seagull’s Competence Manager software, within the Seagull Training Administrator (STA) for use by the seafarer, supervising officer/instructor and company management. These records follow the officer from ship to ship. Currently the tests generated are sent by Masters to Seagull on a monthly basis, with the training specialist returning an Excel spreadsheet. Currently, information is exchange by email, but “the web will be the future”, according to Capt. De Brabandere. “We have now been working with Seagull for three or four years on CBT. When E-TOTS came out, it needed a precise solution to meet the stringent requirements covering the different steps that lead to the promotion of a Deck Officer or Engineer.”