Development of standards for maritime english - the EU Leonardo martel project

Abstract

This paper reports on the progress of the EU funded Leonardo project MarTEL which concems the development of a set of standards for Maritime English for application in Merchant Navy education and training programmes for cadet officers and officers of various types and ranks. The standards are based on transfer of innovation from existing English language standards and maritime English model courses such as Intemational Maritime Organisation's (IMO) Model course 3.17 and the IMO's SMCP (Standard Maritime Communication Phrases, 2001). Recent reviews by several IMO member countries had identified that 'there is a compelling need to promote a high level of working maritime English language skills' for merchant navy officers. The standards were developed at three different levels referred to as Phases 1, 2 and 3. Phase 1 standard applies to level of Maritime English proficiency required for entry onto Merchant Navy cadet officer programmes for both Deck cadet officers and Marine Engineering cadets officers. Phase 2 is in two parts, Part 1 concems the standard of Maritime English competency for Deck Officers of Watch and Part 2 relates to competency level for Marine Engineering Officers. Phase 3 is for Senior Officers and again subdivided into two part, Parts 1 and 2, one for senior Deck officers and one for senior Marine Engineering officers. Each standard has its own set of study guidelines and underpinned by a comprehensive study unit. While the guidelines are to prepare the candidates for a test at given level (Phase ), the Study Unit is a knowledge-base of content for each phase. All phases include active skills i.e. Speaking, Listening and Writing. The content for standard is based on active leaming and on maritime terminology and usage with less emphasis on grammar. All standards for Cadet, Officer and Senior Officer Levels (Phases) will have different weights on different skills and different proficiency requirements at different ranks and duties. The work on standards commenced after a survey of a range of maritime education and business organisations in partner countries. The paper reports on the results of the initial evaluations with a group of cadets and officers in Finland, Poland, England and Turkey. The outcome of the evaluations were used to redirect the work to ensure the education and business organisations views as well as the cadets and officers who took part either in the survey or . actual evaluations were taken into consideration. © 2009 All rights reserved.