MET Standards For Electro-Technical Officers PDF
MET Standards For Electro-Technical Officers PDF
MET Standards For Electro-Technical Officers PDF
DOI: 10.12716/1001.08.04.14
ABSTRACT: The paper deals with one of the most important changes in the STCW 1978 as amended in 2010
Convention, from the point of view of the watchkeeping officers responsible for control, maintenance,
diagnostic and repair of electrical and electronic installations on board of ships. Some reasons, why the MET
Standards for Electro‐Technical had to be developed and implemented are shortly analyzed and described. A
legislative way towards and a short description of the minimum standards competence for ETO are presented.
Next, new tools supporting ETO’s standards implementation are appointed. Finally, the future works as well as
the concluding remarks concerning discussed issue are formulated and commented on.
1 INTRODUCTION: WHY THE MET STANDARDS ships. The first one is based mainly on the
FOR ETO HAD TO BE DEVELOPED AND development of the new ‐ technology based,
IMPLEMENTED? sophisticated ships, like passenger ships, large ferries,
chemical and gas tankers, container vessels, oil rigs
Today and tomorrow challenges in front of maritime suppliers and large offshore structures. In many cases
universities cover, among other things, a full they are all electric ships, ships equipped with
implementation of the STCW 1978 as amended in dynamic positioning system or ships with main
2010 Convention in the teaching and training engine without camshaft with electronic control
programs of the universities [1], [2]. One of the new injection ‐ commonrail system. A significant
elements of the updated version of STCW Convention component of these technologies is based on the
and Code [3] are MET (Maritime Education and assumption, that the computer control systems are
Training) standards for Electro‐Technical Officers. generally used in engine room, on the bridge and in
Why the MET Standards for ETO had to be developed cargo loading and discharging systems and are
and implemented? A fundamental reason of this supervised by distributed ship systems. Nowadays,
process is a rapid and continuously running progress on many kinds of vessels, including previously
in electrical and electronic engineering on ships. This mentioned, numerous frequency converters are
progress covers two layers: a technical, related to applied both to the main propulsion motors and
complexity of the marine electrical and electronic auxiliary drives. It is worthy to add that presently not
devices construction and control as well as a personal, only the number of power converters in ship systems
competence ‐ related and connected with new increases, but also the power of a single electrical
requirements for watchkeeping officers responsible motor rises, which together with converter system
for control, maintenance, diagnostics and repair of used in main propulsion systems often exceeds
electrical and electronic installations on board of 20MW. At the same time total power of electrical
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energy receivers installed in these systems in many years 1992 ‐ 1995. In March 2008, Poland, France,
cases reaches the values up to 80…100MW. Such a United Kingdom and Bulgaria, submitted the
great values of power cause a necessity to use a high definition and mandatory requirements for
voltage solutions, and a level of applied voltages certification of Electro‐Technical Officer (ETO) and
reaches even 11kV. Under described conditions many Senior Electro‐Technical Officer (SETO) [8]. In 2008
new problems had been observed and new the representatives of Poland in cooperation with
challenges, how to overcome them, appear. It is a other countries have undertaken the initiative to
starting point to second aspect concerning the new create the international informal working group
competences and KUP’s (Knowledge, Understanding oriented to ETO works, named ETO Forum. The
and Proficiency) for highly qualified staff, and representatives of Bulgaria, France, IFSMA, Islamic
dedicated mainly to electrical, electronic and control Republic of Iran, ITF, Malaysia, Poland, Sweden,
engineering issues. Safe operation of many Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States of
sophisticated ships today is greatly dependent on America have participated in this working group. A
satisfactory skills and qualifications in the electrical, detailed list of persons involved may be found in [7].
electronic and control engineering field being at all This was followed by the formulation of the definition
times available and more and more developed of training and certification requirements for the
onboard. That is why such a big power plants and Electronic Officer submitted by the Islamic Republic
electric motors used for propulsion of the vessel like of Iran [9] and a formulation of the proposal on the
previously mentioned, also very complicated knowledge and skill requirements for Electronic
computer control and monitoring systems on board of Officer presented by The People’s Republic of China
ships, should be maintained and repaired by really in [10]. In the next step the delegations of Poland,
competent and well prepared to perform ETO duties France, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria and the Islamic
person. Such a person, responsible for repair and Republic of Iran, in September 2009, consolidated
maintenance of electrical and electronic installations from their previous documents the requirements for
on board of ships, must have thorough knowledge, ETO at operation and management levels and
which is not possible to obtain working for a long presented them as a joint proposal issued as [11]. It is
period in engine department of the ship only. A deep worthy to note a position of US and German delegates
theoretical background and appropriately conducted included in [12], that there should be two levels of
training based on specialised laboratories and training and related requirements, i.e. support and
simulators is needed. It is worthy to add, that a operational. After an in‐depth discussion it was
majority of shipowners presently have employed agreed a compromise solution to include to the STCW
electrical / electronic officers, but at the same time Convention and the Code the requirements for
many contrary situations were noted. One of the Electro‐Technical Officers (operational level) and
strange and well analysed cases concerning a dead Electro‐Technical Ratings (support level). The
short caused the failure of generating set’s circuit significant progress has taken place during the
breaker during a voyage of passenger ship m/s Conference of Parties to the International Convention
STATENDAM was described in [4]. The most on Standards of Training, Certification and
intriguing were the statements formulated by the Watchkeeping for Seafarers in Manila in 2010. The
Transport Safety Board of Canada: firstly, “None of the mandatory minimum requirements for certification of
senior engineers onboard had theoretical or practical electro‐technical officers were formally included in
education in 6,6 kV generation, distribution and trouble the Section A‐III/6 and for certification of electro‐
shooting” and secondly, “The seafarers Training, technical ratings in A‐III/4‐7 [13], and later on 2011
Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) code however, Edition of STCW Convention and STCW Code [3].
does not identify electricians as a seafaring profession and These are the first in IMO history standards for electro
does not specify a minimum internationally applicable ‐ technical personnel and now international
standard for their education training and competence” [4]. community of seafarers is just equipped with
It is obvious, that this kind of thinking, based on the appropriate legal instruments in the discussed matter.
existing of that time version of the STCW Convention
and Code [5], had to be changed. In fact, there were
many important circumstances and reasons, which
created a need for international qualification 3 A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE MINIMUM
requirements for Marine Electro‐Technical Officers STANDARDS COMPETENCE FOR ELECTRO‐
(ETO), in the light of the continuous technological TECHNICAL OFFICERS
progress as well as the new required qualifications
and skills for electrical/electronic installations The minimum standards of competence for ETO,
operation in the field under consideration. More established in the STCW Convention and Code’s
detailed information concerning ETO background, Annex approved at the end of June 2010 by the
progress in related standards and legislative way may Diplomatic Conference in Manila, and specified in
be found in [6], [7]. [13] cover 18 competences divided into three
functions: 1. Electrical, Electronic and Control
Engineering, 2. Maintenance and Repair, as well as 3.
Controlling the Operation of the Ship and Care for
2 A LEGISLATIVE WAY TOWARDS MET persons on Board. All functions are dedicated to the
STANDARDS FOR ETO’S operational level. The competences of the first
function concern the monitoring the operation of the
The first unsuccessful attempt of Poland, Norway and electrical electronic and control systems, including
USA to introduce regulations for electro‐technical propulsion and auxiliary machinery, the operation of
officers to the STCW’95 Convention took place in the generators and distribution systems as well the
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operation and maintenance of high voltage (in excess Record Book [17], as a basis for the recognition of the
of 1kV) power systems, and finally the usage of officer’s knowledge and experience, leading to obtain
internal communication systems and English at the the certificate, shall contain five parts: 1. General
adequate level. The competencies of the second Information, 2. Summary record of on board training,
function cover the maintenance and repair KUP’s 3. On board training record for First, Second and Next
related to electrical and electronic equipment, Ship, 4. List of training tasks and record of
automation and control systems of main propulsion achievements, and 5. Electro‐Technical Operations
and auxiliary machinery, bridge navigation Workbook Guidance. A detailed structure of the
equipment and ship communication systems, and content of the Training Record Book, taking into
also electrical, electronic and control systems of deck account the division of the sections into related sub‐
machinery and cargo ‐ handling equipment, and sections is shown in [7].
finally related to control and safety systems of hotel
equipment. The competences of the third function are
similar to the competencies for other engine and deck
officers at the operational level and adequate KUP’s 5 FUTURE WORKS
describe the issues of pollution prevention
requirements, prevention, control and fire‐fighting on It seems that the next essential step concerning “ETO
board, operation of life‐saving appliances, medical issue” in the near future will be the adoption of
first aid on board ship and finally, application of appropriate standards of education and training for
leadership and teamworking skills. All above Senior Electro‐Technical Officers [7]. The concept to
presented standards of competence were the basis for include Course for Senior ETO in this project was
the development of a new IMO Model Course on originated from the Diplomatic Conference in Manila,
Electro‐Technical Officer [14], presented and accepted where during the process of comprehensive review of
in May 2013 in London during the 44th session of STW STCW Convention and Code, delegations from large
Sub‐Committee. number of countries have been successfully
supporting the idea of two level standards for ETOs.
These delegations proposed to establish also
standards for Senior Electro‐Technical Officer at the
4 NEW TOOLS SUPPORTING ETO’S STANDARDS management level. In this context, the Committee of
IMPLEMENTATION the Whole of the STCW Conference in Manila agreed
to invite the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) to
In result of the ETO forum and IMO members and consider proposal of Senior ETO with a view to
official bodies activity two new tools supporting establishing a new work programme item for the
ETO’s standards implementation were created. Firstly STW Sub‐Committee [18]. In the same queue MSC
within the IMO procedures, in accordance with the invited Member Governments and international
decision of the STW 44, a new “Model course: Electro‐ organizations to submit proposals relating Senior
Technical Officer, 2013 Edition, Code T708E, has been ETO [19]. It is worthy to mention, that some activities
established [15] and introduced to IMO distribution of International Association of Maritime Universities
channels. The content of the Model Course Draft for (IAMU) were noted. In parallel with IMO procedures
ETO [14] was updated this way, that in chapter 3.1 concerning an inclusion of ETO’s standards in STCW
some requirements concerning the familiarization Convention and Code, the IAMU research project was
with MARPOL were added, and in chapter 3.5 a part taking place in FY 2012‐2013. Under the umbrella of
related to “Application of leadership and this project, Poland and China, under the leadership
teamworking skills” were deleted, but at the same of Ukraine, took part in the activities related to the
time a decision about moving into operation a new development of IAMU Model Course for Electro‐
model course “Leadership and Teamwork” [16], for Technical Officers: Course for Electro‐Technical
all candidates certified in the Engine and Navigation Officer (ETO), Course for Senior Electro‐Technical
Department was taken. Additionally, part of Officer (Senior ETO). Project has been positively
Appendices [14] has been enriched with completed and accepted. The partners of the project
complementary knowledge “Basic Electricity and believe in positive impact of the project results for
Electronics”. Finally, the content of the Model Course future IMO works.
for ETO has been carefully designed in order to
assure the full coverage of the necessary
requirements. The structure of this model course
consist of Introduction, part A, including Course 6 CONCLUDING REMARKS
Framework for all functions and Parts B, C and D
(Course Outline, Detailed Teaching Syllabus and Due to the continuous technological development as
Instructor’s Manual, respectively) prepared for three well as new required qualifications and skills for
previously specified functions for ETO. The final maintenance and repair of electrical/electronic
parts of the ETO Model Course cover part E ‐ systems, equipment and installations, there is a
Evaluation and Appendices as follow: Basic significant increase in employment of properly
Engineering Science, Mathematics, Thermodynamics, qualified Electro‐Technical Officers. Such specialists
Mechanical Science, Industrial Chemistry, and are the crew members of cruise vessels, large ferries
previously mentioned ‐ Basic Electricity and and all kinds of special purpose vessels, and therefore
Electronics. The second tool supporting ETO’s their qualifications and competences had been
standards implementation is On Board Training standardised at the international level in the STCW
Record Book [17] for candidates for certification as Convention. As in the case of other officers, there is a
Electro‐Technical Officer. The On Board Training need to implement and develop the newly established
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IMO Model Course for Electro‐Technical Officers and Navigational Symposium on Marine Navigation and
Onboard Training Record Book. These documents Safety of Sea Transportation, TransNav, Gdynia, p. 761‐
should be helpful to establish procedures for ETO’s 770
education and training. Taking into account a 7. Wyszkowski J., Mindykowski J. 2013. Polish Activities in
IMO on Electro‐Technical Officers (ETO) Requirements,
previous MSC announcement and recommendation,
Conference proceedings, Volume: Marine Navigation
the next essential step should be oriented towards the and Safety of Sea Trans‐portation ‐ STCW Maritime
adoption of appropriate MET standards for Senior Education and Training (MET), Human Resources and
Electro‐Technical Officers. It is very important, to Crew Manning Maritime Policy, Logistic and Economic
open a full track of their professional carrier, it means Matters, Weintrit & Neumann (eds) CRS Press Taylor &
electro‐technical rating, electro‐technical officer and Francis Group , A Balkema Book, pp. 73‐77, Gdynia
senior electro‐technical officer for persons responsible 8. 2007. STW 39/7/12 Comprehensive review of the STCW
for maintenance and repair of electrical and electronic Convention and the STCW Code, Submitted by
systems, equipment and installations on board of Bulgaria, France, Poland and the United Kingdom
ships. 9. 2007. STW 39/7/1 Proposal of definition and training and
certification requirements for the Electronic officer,
Submitted by the Islamic Republic of Iran, July 2007,
London
10. 2007. STW 39/7/44 Proposal on the knowledge and skill
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