A Draft IMO Model Course for 2nd Class Radio-electronic Certificate Was Approved by STW-32
The 32nd session of IMO Sub-Committee on Standards of Training, Sertification and Watchkeeping (STW-32) has examined and approved a Draft IMO Model Course for GMDSS Second Class Radio-electronics Officer, developed by Admiral Makarov State Maritime Academy (Russia).
Thus a precedent of adoption by IMO of Russian recommendations (which the Model Course is) for training of seafarers for marine community was created.
From the moment of IMO establishment till the present time Model Courses were normally developed and introduced by countries of Western Europe and the USA.
Originally Gdynia Maritime Academy (Poland) initiated the Model Course development in 1996.
In 1998 on the initiative of Admiral Makarov State Maritime Academy the Russian Federation appealed to IMO General Secretary with the suggestion to join voluntary experts for the Model Course development.
Makarov Training Centre was in charge of the course review, co-ordination with Polish colleagues, editing and design.
Two-year work resulted in a totally new Draft Model Course. This Course included not only plan of subjects (subject-matter) but detailed teaching syllabus and course outline for the instructors as well.
The Course comprises more than 350 pages; its duration is 584 hours.
Draft Model Course consists of 10 topics covering the problems of technical maintenance of shipborne radio communication equipment, electronic navigational aids, PC software and hardware, microprocessors, GMDSS arrangement.
More than 20 instructors and experts from Admiral Makarov State Maritime Academy and CNIIMF participated in the Model Course development; the Course was translated into English by 5 English language lecturers of Academy's English Language department.
