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Profles in Training age, the trainer never stopped learning and Cheesman explains best placed for that by delivering blended and online courses.” that “we also studied the needs of our students in today’s world While legislative mandate drives maritime education require- and it quickly became obvious that our preferred training ments and an increasing array of online tools enable distance should be delivered using blended training and that we should learning, Cheesman sees practical experience as equally im- also prepare and mentor those new to the industry.” portant. “As we need to embrace changes in technology, we be-

Today, Seven Seas Preparatory Academy is centered on an lieve that basic core principles must still be taught to ensure we online/blended program that includes the STWC Basic Train- do not become to over reliant on such technologies. This is a ing elements, security awareness, crowd and crisis manage- reason why we focus on preparing our students for life at sea.” ment, personnel with designated duties and deck programs.

Give and Take

Seven Seas Today Teaching a course is one matter; gauging its effectiveness

Today, Seven Seas Preparatory Academy primarily provides is another. “Our main focus is student feedback,” said Chees- and customizes maritime training to the cruise ship and yacht- man. “Our philosophy is ensuring that our students understand ing industry, serving a diversity of student from frst-time mari- what we are teaching and not just completing a test to gain a time entrants to refresher courses for students from around the pass mark. We have an active program in place that enables us world. to make changes with the goal of providing quality training “In addition to STCW courses, we build customized maritime with the expectations of our students.” Seven Seas Preparatory professional training programs for cruise industry, for example Academy’s online platform was developed by Marine Learning recently we developed a Health and Safety course for a new Systems and “has proven instrumental in reaching our needs cruise line (Virgin Voyages) that was facilitated to all crew, and goals in providing online training. The system allows us to when the ship was still in the yard,” said Cheesman. track student performance with their leading-edge reporting,”

Starting at such an early age in the industry has given Chees- said Cheesman.

man a unique perspective on evolving and effective training As the industry evolves, so too does Seven Seas. “We cur- methods. rently run a deckhand workshop for those interested in working “I have attended many courses during my career with a mix- on superyachts, where they learn valuable seamanship/naviga- ture of quality and it became apparent that occasionally while tion skills and as part of the course we shall be providing re- attending a course was a tick in the box and to collect a cer- mote simulator assessments where we can operate instructor tifcate with no real learning value,” said Cheesman. “Today, lead exercises using radar/ECDIS. We are very much embrac- expectations are high, and we must ensure that we create the ing in this new and evolving technology.” www.sevenseasprep.com best learning environment to aid development. We believe we a 18 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • July 2020