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Yachting Pages
In the realm of maritime luxury, the quest to offer yacht charter guests the perfect night's sleep has become an art form, one which luxury bed and linen supplier, CC Design, has fully committed to.
With thanks to VIRSEC, Tradewinds Engineering Ltd and The Yacht Purser
Previously, in order to earn a qualification or work your way into a superyacht-related job role, you needed to attend courses and commit to classroom-based learning. Nowadays, earning your spot on a yacht can be done in a much more flexible, convenient and cost-effective manner.
Online training is fast becoming an important option in the crew-training process, with more and more training providers implementing it into its courses and programmes wherever possible. This process has accelerated as result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We spoke with industry experts to better understand the advancement of online training in the yachting world and the opportunities that are now available to crew, the benefits of digital learning, and how it is expected to revolutionise the industry.
What online training is available within the yachting industry?
The variety of online courses available within the yachting industry is ever-expanding. Technology is now a huge part of modern life, and in order to remain at the forefront of the training world it’s essential that crew-training companies remain original and innovative.
Those who ignore the top technology trends can fall behind, and doing so can have damaging consequences for a business.
So, what cutting-edge companies provide crew with online training options?
Tradewinds Engineering provides a range of refrigeration-focussed online training courses, to help marine engineers understand how these systems work and also how to troubleshoot and commission them. Its training courses cover various topics, from ‘Refrigeration Masterclass’ and ‘Fundamentals of Marine Refrigeration’, to ‘Ventilation and Air Balancing’ and ‘Brazing Copper Pipework to British Standards’.
VIRSEC offers a ‘Proficiency in Designated Security Duties’ (PSDS) course - MCA-approved STCW ISPS training - tailored specifically to the yachting industry.
Crew can also do their ‘Dangerous Goods’ certificate to accompany their ‘Helideck Assistant’ training online.
The Yacht Purser specialises in training for aspiring pursers who wish to progress in a purser role but lack the knowledge and skills.
What are the benefits of online training?
One of the key benefits to virtual learning, as opposed to physical training, is the level of flexibility and convenience that it provides. Students can learn at their own pace, from the comfort of their own home or cabin. Doing a course online means that you do not have to take extended periods of leave or wait until you’re between jobs.
As well as this, from a trainer’s perspective, online training allows the tutor to cover much more content than physical teaching, over the same period of time. Tradewinds Engineering offers a virtual ‘Refrigeration Masterclass’ course, where students cover everything from basic thermodynamics and the vapour compression cycle, to service maintenance and troubleshooting techniques. You can also save money on food, accommodation and flights, which is great for both the crewmember and the training provider. It means e-Learning is a much greener method of training, and, consequently, the leading company’s carbon footprint will be reduced.
How is online training managed?
The management of online training may differ slightly by brand. The Yacht Purser, for example, firstly retrieves the candidate’s CV. It then arranges a 30-minute phone call with the student to ensure that ‘The Ultimate Yacht Purser’ course is right for them. If suitable, the student will receive log in details to access the e-Learning platform, which consists of educational PDFs and videos.
It holds weekly group calls and provides lots of one-to-one interaction. The Yacht Purser marks all assignments and sends back to the students via email.
The Yacht Purser’s course requires potential students to have at least two years’ experience in yachting, preferably with at least one year spent on a yacht over 60 metres (197 feet).
VIRSEC’s courses incorporate interactive learning confirmation questionnaires, video, high-quality note downloads and formal assessments for official certifications.
All courses undergo periodic revision and updates, not only to maintain quality and consistency, but to act on feedback from learners too.
How may online training change the superyacht industry in the future?
In many ways, online learning has revolutionised the way training is provided to the yachting industry. Boasting various benefits, it’s fast becoming the preferred means of training crew.
Online training is a great way to up-skill and continue your professional development within the industry. There is an array of ‘soft’ skills which all crew would benefit from learning, such as leadership, communication and conflict-management, which could be completed online.
Tradewinds Engineering recommends online courses for follow-up training. It recognises that when learning, if you don’t use something, you can often lose it, so equips students with its online courses in order to continue their professional development and refresh their knowledge.
To discover more about what training qualifications are available within the yachting industry, take a look at our crew training guides.
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