Cadetship Program
Vast and sophisticated, the ever-growing industry of maritime is no easy business. And apparently, most shipping industry stakeholders would agree that 'the crew' still has undeniable importance in ensuring the overall efficiency of fleet operation. Career management and retention itself is so vital that the development of young talent and successor management have become an integral part in the corporate philosophy of several shipping principals. Advancements in technology and industry requirements are changing so fast, rendered attention to supporting young talents (and all active crew) especially with the fundamentals of these industry-updates is indeed vital.
Ongoing Cadet Programs – The maritime sector has been significantly affected by the pandemic for years. The seafarers themselves had experienced magnified challenges because of the situation. GigaMare, being part of the ‘Training’ field in maritime, had witnessed how this had affected our client partners and the seafarers directly. There has been a moderate demand for competence enhancement investments. Still, despite gradual, the need to strengthen the younger generation of seafarers is inevitable. Recently, GigaMare is delivering Competence Enhancement Programs for Deck Cadets, Engine Cadets, and multi batches of ETO Cadets. During the cadets' competence enhancement program, learning gaps were assessed and addressed through mentorship, blended learning experience, and practical skills development.
The competence enhancement program, having a holistic approach, aims to improve the cadets' know-how in seamanship and improve human performance through close-to-real-working-environment learning applications. A training where theories are practically applied is the key. As one notable expression conveys, 'Tell me and I will forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I will understand'. Interestingly, some studies have even cited that the rate of retention when doing hands-on practice can go as high as 75 percent. Through GigaMare's learning resources, state-of-the-art training infrastructure, and the recently upgraded Simulation Center, the cadets have been engaged in structured assessments, simulations, and troubleshoot applications to enhance their technical skills. The program exposes the trainee cadets to additional training experiences and learning fields, some of which include Practical Navigation in Subic Bay waters, Combined simulations with other vessel departments, and introduction to electronic controlled engines.
More than the training
Throughout their program, the cadets experienced how to live, learn, and work with others -preparing them to be part of a crew as well as developing their leadership potentials. Physical conditioning exercises and personality development activities were part of their program. In reality, life on board can be an aggregate of a highly diverse environment with a crew of different cultural backgrounds. The program offered a setting that had a noticeable impact on the cadets, besides technical skill development- sociability, mental-preparedness, and camaraderie.
‘She-farer’ on board
Today, women represent only two percent of the world's 1.2 million seafarers, and 94 percent of female seafarers are working in the cruise industry. Within this historically male-dominated industry, maritime stakeholders such as IMO has been making a concerted effort to help the industry move forward and support women to achieve a representation that is in keeping with twenty-first-century expectations (imo.org). GigaMare’s ongoing cadet courses is happy to have three female cadets as part of our Deck, Engine, and ETO programs.
