Navigation Program

3 year program - 12 months at sea

Session dates are as follows:

• Sea training 1 (Summer) : late May to mid-August;
• Sea training 2 (Winter) : late December to late May;
• Sea training 3 (Fall) : mid-August to late December.

sea training objectives 

navigation Sea TRAINING 1

Navigation students complete their first sea training after two sessions of theoretical studies. The first sea training lasts approximately two months and takes place from late May to mid-August.

In the first school year, students acquire knowledge related to the following subjects:

• Seamanship;
• Deck apparatus;
• Basic knowledge of marine-sector regulations and conventions;
• Basic knowledge of various publications and chartwork;
• Operation and use of radar, echosounder and loch;
• Marine safety;
• Basic knowledge of the various types of vessels and their cargo;
• Nautical rules and plotting techniques;
• Basic electricity;
• Shipbuilding (terminology and construction elements).

Overall Objective:

The first sea training's main objective is to enable apprentice officers to confirm their career choice. It is important that they have a chance to understand and participate in the different aspects of work at sea.

Specific Objectives:

• Familiarize oneself with the occupation of deck officer and life on board;
• Familiarize oneself with ships;
• Put seamanship tasks into practice;
• Familiarize oneself with the Third Officer’s safety-related tasks;
• Familiarize oneself with the wheelhouse, the different instruments, the different publications;
• Log steering time.

navigation sea TRAINING 2

Navigation students do their second sea training after three sessions of theoretical studies. The second sea training lasts approximately five months and takes place from late December to late May.

In the third session, students acquire knowledge related to the following subjects:

• Collision Regulations;
• Oil tanker operations;
• Advanced chartwork;
• Operation and use of a VHF;
• Construction of the stem and stern of the ship;
• Ship stability.

Overall Objective:

Further knowledge and acquire the confidence needed to accomplish the tasks related to one’s future job, including, duties related to bridge watch (communications, logbook, ship positioning, preventing collisions) and voyage preparation.

This sea training should target the Second Officer’s duties.

Specific Objectives:

• Put bridge watch tasks and responsibilities into practice;
• Familiarize oneself with the Second Officer’s voyage preparation and publication updating tasks;
• Further knowledge of the wheelhouse’s different navigation-related instruments and use them;
• Log steering time.

navigation sea TRAINING 3

Navigation students do their third sea training after five sessions of theoretical studies. The third sea training lasts approximately five months and takes place from mid-August to late December.

In the fourth and fifth sessions, students acquire knowledge related to the following subjects:

• Astronomy;
• Stability;
• Engine room systems and circuits;
• Navigation instruments;
• Operations related to various cargo types;
• Meteorology;
• Communications/GMDSS;
• Legislation;
• Operations related to dry dock/preparing specifications;
• Manoeuvres;
• Oil tanker operations.

Overall Objective:

Further knowledge of cargo operation-related tasks and responsibilities.

This sea training should target the First Officer’s duties.

Specific Objectives:

• Participate actively in bridge watch, under the Watchkeeping Officer’s supervision;
• Acquire the confidence needed to carry out the duties of a junior officer in the future;
• Familiarize oneself with the First Officer’s loading/unloading plan preparation tasks and preparing loading/unloading orders in keeping with the different applicable regulations;
• Log steering time.