Are we all on the same page

Despite the best intentions of the industry, we all know there’s some way to go before English is fully established as the language of the sea. SARAH ROBINSON finds out what the academic community is doing to move things along.

Cracking the Comms comundrum

It is time the industry paid more attention to crews’ poor English skills, says Martin Ziarati of the Centre for Factories of the Future.

MarTEL Plus Summary

MarTEL project is particularly timely for Turkey where there is a shortage of officers but huge surplus of ratings many with no or little knowledge of Maritime English

MariFuture Activities at TUDEV

This article reports on the progress made with RU funded projects at TUDEV giving references to some of TUDEV papers presented and activities carried out in recent events in the world

Marifuture Changes the Maritime Education

MarTEL (Maritime test of English language) is an European Leonardo Da Vinci project which aims to establish standards for Maritime English. The project ended in 2009; evolving into a multi-layered structure with a thorough approach to the project objectives and creating standards in testing Maritime English of three groups of seafarers, namely; the would-be cadets of maritime academies, graduates of these academies and the officers of junior rank and the seafarers of senior level who are captains and chief engineers.

MarTEL Newsletter

MarTEL is the unique solution to improving the Maritime English competency of seafarers. MarTEL solution contains a series of study units supplemented by a set of tests in Maritime English. The intention is to promote the teaching of English to seafarers in a Maritime context therefore as well as providing a sound framework for teaching of English, MarTEL helps to motivate cadets and officers to learn English more effectively. A new and standardized method of delivery and assessment of Maritime English competency will help to reduce the extremely high percentage of accidents and incidents at sea and in ports, and save many lives.

Establishing a set of standards for Maritime personnel working in the water transportation sector is of outmost importance in terms of maintenance of effective and safe working environment for each and every class and rank of seafarer.

MarTEL Project is the result of this recognized need by all concerned and has been brought to life through a collaboration with various prestigious Maritime educational institutes and universities in Europe. The wide geographical distribution of these institutions in Europe adds to the strength of the project. By contributing in their own unique way of instruction methods and specific local needs and knowhow of their respective shipping and maritime industry they have enriched the content of the MarTEL standards.

The eclectic combination of different scopes and cultures will enable the MarTEL Team to produce a standardized system that will help the language competency needs of a non-native speaker working in ports and onboard vessels and hopefully will set the benchmark for Maritime English education not only in Europe but in worldwide at its later stage.

Testiranje pomorske angleščine

MarTEL offers a new and innovative approach to the Maritime English Language of mariners and port workers across the European Union. Through an interactive online learning platform, MarTEL will create and test a set of accepted standards of Maritime English Language for merchant seafarers whose first language is not English. The MarTEL Project is currently being developed by a consortium of highly experienced European partners; each comes from a different but related background that complements the project perfectly. The consortium includes maritime universities and training institutions as well as private companies which have hold specific experience or expertise in the project’s area.

The Project is supported by the European Union, which has funded the development and research of MarTEL since 2007. The project has received recognition from the EU because it meets several criteria for future development within the union by both encouraging and promoting lifelong learning among adult European learners and promotes the development of linguistic diversity and closer cohesion in Europe. MarTEL’s main aim us to improve safety at sea, which justifies the Projects inclusion within the EU's Leonardo da Vinci Programme.

Bridging the language gap

Since 2007, an EU- funded transnational company have been working on a programme to establish proper standards of Maritime English. Called MarTEL, it is based on the premise that effective knowledge of English at sea and in ports is essential for all seafarers who have responsibility for the safety and security of their ship. Approximately one third of accidents at sea are caused by an insufficient command of Maritime English. Safety at Sea International journalist Jem Newton speaks to the Project Co-ordinators about the MarTEL programme and its aims.

Maritime standards of competence

This article discusses the need for Maritime English standards in the maritime industry before going on to talk about the MarTEL project which is attempting to provide these standards. It focuses specifically on Poland providing readers with some examples of accidents caused by poor communication involving Polish ships and crewmembers. The article gives a general overview of the MarTEL project, its aims and the countries involved. It provides details about the three levels of Maritime English that have been developed as well as the sklill areas tested. It provides information on the project's current position stating that the final release of the tests will be made public in early 2010. This will enable MarTEL to be transformed into internationally recognised qualifications for Maritime English. The introduction of such standards will not only increase safety at sea but also contribute to the protection of the marine environment.

Standards for Maritime English for Safer Seas and Ports

To improve the standard of Maritime English IMO in 2001, introduced SMCPL Standard Marine Communication Phrases. The aim was to get around the problem of language barriers at sea and to avoid misunderstandings which can cause accidents. The question often asked is SMCP used at sea? (Alert 2007). The problem is that IMO does not carry out inspections to see if STCW is correctly implemented let alone monitoring the implementation or usage of SMCP at sea or its effective application.

While SMCP has provided a sort of survival kit, it only includes the essential safety related communication events where spoken English is required. IMO in introducing SMCP neglected two very important considerations. The need for competence in English language by all seafarers and a means of monitoring and measuring this competence, and second, that without competence in English language and reliance on memorising SMCP, when emergencies do occur psychology plays an important role viz., if these marine communication phrases are not learned in a context of English language environment, then at the time of panic, there are no assurances that they are recalled correctly and this has been observed in several recorded accidents (Ziarati, et al, 2009). Valerie Short states that while STCW95 contains guidelines to watch keepers stipulating that standards of English of seafarers should be ‘adequate’ (whatever this means!) for general OOW duties, yet she notes that the STCW code does not provide indications of English proficiency levels to be achieved.

To date the response to poor English competences has been reactive and IMO practice as has been the case in the past have been often a response to specific disasters, see for instance, SOLAS, MARPOL, etc. The interest in Maritime English was renewed in a recent meeting of IMO MSC 2006 meeting when the UK delegation supported by several other countries warn the Committee of severe consequences if action is not taken to remedy the poor standards of Seafarers’ English. There were discussions at the workshop meetings at the event that what is needed is to develop a set of comprehensive standards for Maritime English and provide a means of assessing English proficiency level of seafarers. The assessment system should also test the English skills and not maritime knowledge of a seafarer. It should be a vocational in nature and unlike conventional testing system should be skilled based with not too much reliance on grammar. There was a strong feeling that English should be taught in the context of maritime English as suggested by Loginovsky (2002).

In response to the IMO MSC 2006 call by the UK delegate in 2007, C4FF (UK) with support from TUDEV (TR) and a number of MET institutions and progressive enterprises in several EU countries instigated a project called MarTEL. This article reports on the development of MarTEL and progress so far.

Do we need standards for Maritime English

For several years, the Maritime University of Szczecin has been participating in a number of international projects aimed at increasing safety at sea. One of them was the MarTEL (Maritime Test of English Language) project. On 5 October 2009 in the Maritime University Senate Room, a conference was held to sum up the MarTEL project, whose aim was to establish a set of international and European standards for maritime English. The impetus for the project had come from a survey which showed that over 80% of accidents at sea are due to human error and one of the main causes is poor knowledge of English. The project was implemented by our school in cooperation with seven maritime staff education centres in Europe (Turkey, England, Scotland, Poland, Finland, Norway and Slovenia).

Maritime English – The Future (MarTEL)

It is of no surprise that a large portion of accidents at sea are caused by poor communication. The Prestige disaster in 2002 is just one of many examples that demonstrate this crisis. There have been many surveys and research studies conducted in recent years which prove that the lack of standards in maritime English needs to be resolved (Robinson, Nautilus, Dec 2007). The MarTEL project (www.maritime-tests.org) believes it is the solution to this problem. MarTEL is at the forefront of contemporary research in the field. It has been developed by a consortium of highly experienced European partners; each from a different but related background that complements the project perfectly. The consortium includes maritime universities and training institutions as well as private companies which have specific experience or expertise in the project's area.

MarTEL offers a new and innovative approach to the Maritime English Language testing of mariners across the European Union. Through an interactive online learning platform, MarTEL will create and test a set of accepted standards of Maritime English Language for merchant seafarers. The Project is funded by the European Union and promotes lifelong learning among adult European learners and supports the development of linguistic diversity and closer cohesion in Europe. MarTEL’s main aim is to improve safety at sea, which justifies the Projects inclusion within the EU’s Leonardo da Vinci Programme.

It is expected that MarTEL will be ready for delivery by the end of the third quarter of 2009. Several refereed papers on MarTEL have been published (Ziarati, 2008 – IMLA 08, Albayrak, 2008 – IMLA 08, Ziarati et al, 2009 – Bridge 09) and a number are due for presentation and publications in major transnational and international conferences (IAMU, 09, IMLA 09, IMEC 09 and IMAM 09) in September and October 2009.

The MarTEL Standards are being transformed into internationally recognised qualifications. 2009 will therefore be an eventful year in introducing MarTEL and the expected improvements in safety at sea for European seafarers in the near future.

MarTEL – Developing Standards for Maritime English for Safer Seas and Ports

It is acknowledged by all concerned that effective knowledge of English at sea and in ports is a must for all seafarers responsible for safety and security of the ship, its crew and its passengers. Yet as evidenced by recent reports, articles and papers particularly accidents reports by major and reputable investigation authorities that the standard of English of some seafarers is so bad that they have difficulty communicating not only between themselves but also with agencies outside the ship (Alert, 2007).

Investigations into the human factor regarding disasters at sea, which focused on communication behaviour according to Trenker (2007) revealed that one third of accidents happen primarily due to insufficient command of maritime English. He reported that in VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) controlled areas for instance, poor communicating of relevant factors contribute up to 40% of collisions involving the human element, most of them caused by failures in radio communication even in routine conversations, but some also through face-to-face communication deficiencies.

The studies by Trenker (2007) is in line with the authors own findings (Ziarati, 2006). A review of some 300 accidents revealed that standard of English of seafarers is one of the two main causes of accidents and incidents at sea and in port (Ziarati, ibid). What is so alarming is that while accidents at sea and in ports are decreasing, accidents due to human failure, particularly due to poor standards of English by seafarers are on the increase (MarTEL, 2007, Ziarati. 2009).

In response to the IMO MSC 2006 call by the UK delegation identifying the need to promote a higher level of working Maritime English language competency, in 2007, C4FF (UK) with support from TUDEV (TR) and a number of MET institutions and progressive enterprises in several EU countries instigated a project called MarTEL

MarTEL is a set of standards for Maritime English. The proposed standards are expected to make seas and ports safer and save lives and to improve the quality of live on board vessels through improved communications. The standards include three assessment phases, ranging from Elementary to Upper-intermediate/advance in Phase I, English Tests for given skills for Deck and Marine Engineering Officers of Watch in Phase II and English Tests, again for given skills, for Senior Deck and Marine Engineering Officer in Phase III.

The two Maritime English project teams currently funded by EU, viz., MarTEL and MarEng Plus have agreed to cooperate and this is expected to strengthen the products being developed within the two projects.

Misunderstanding is often the reason behind human error

MarTEL, a project dealing with defining standards for levels of knowledge in Maritime English, had a group meeting in Rauma. – The main aim of the project is to take away maritime safety risks that are due to language. A lot of accidents at sea are caused by misunderstanding. Says Johanna Pöyhönen. According to project leader Professor Ziarati behind a human error is most oftenly communicational misunderstanding. These lead to accidents more often than technical failures.

SMCP is used as a basis when developing the standards. How should mariners communicate in English and what should a student know at a certain level is what the standards define. No standards existed before and now with this standard the project intends to get some consistency in Maritime English. The project has been presented to the IMO that is expected to take the matter world wide.

Language can diminish safety at sea

This article is about the rising number of human errors in the maritime industry due to poor communication. Human errors are inevitable. Everybody makes mistakes. However the number of accidents caused by human error in the maritime industry is too high and on the increase. Many of these accidents are due to poor communication. It is thought that improved standards in maritime English (MarTEL - Maritime English Tests) could help minimise the number of these accidents dramatically. A young female student at Satakunta University of Applied Sciences looks into this issue.

Maritime Safety risks reduced with standardised vocabulary

These 2 articles are about a young female student who has been on a variety of different tankers. She has experienced many different roles onboard these ships and worked with a variety of different multinational crews. As a result of her experiences the student opens up about the communication problems onboard and the difficulty of understanding English in different accents. She claims that English in a French accent is the most difficult to comprehend.

Do we need standards for Maritime English?

The paper presents the assumptions and first results of an international project MarTEL (Maritime Test of English Language). The project in which the Maritime University of Szczecin is involved aims at setting standards of competency for Maritime English by means of transferring already existing norms for the certification of the English language.

The article includes:

• An overview of the MarTEL project
• The inadequacy of Maritime English as recognized by the IMO
• The role that the MarTEL test will play in the Maritime Industry
• The results from the first evaluation of the MarTEL Phase 1 Test.

The partners in the MarTEL project are convinced that designing standards for maritime English is a necessity. The necessity underpinned by the ultimate need to enhance safety of navigation at sea and in ports. They reach out to the teaching institutions, maritime administrations, ship owners, as well as the crew of seagoing ships by offering them to work towards standards developed for their safety and well-being.

TUDEV Full Speed Ahead on the EU Route

The first event concerned TUDEV’s new and major Leonardo Pilot Project. The first Group Meeting of the MarTEL (Maritime Test of English Language) took place over a two day period at TUDEV on 6-7 December 2007. There were partner representatives from UK, Scotland, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Finland and Turkey. Recent research reports indicate that one of the major causes of the human error related accidents at sea is due to problems with English language competency. There are no international or European standards for Maritime English. The MarTEL project makes an attempt to overcome this problem by transferring innovation from existing English language models and establish a set of standards for maritime English and concurrently develop study guidelines for these standards. This project also covers maritime language competency assessment for the language certification. The project intends to develop these standards at Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced levels as well as at Deck and Marine Engineering officers ranks and higher.

The article also discusses the other projects that TUDEV has been involved in, such as, the Leonardo SOS projects, Train4Cs and SURPASS. As well as the BTEC/EDEXCEL approved improvements TUDEV has made significant improvements to their teaching practice with a view to improve safety at sea.

Communicating on a Level Playing Field

Approximately 10% of all serious personal injuries occurred during mooring or towing operations. A significant proportion of these claims were the result of slips, trips and falls, but almost half were caused by parting lines or involved seamen who were killed or injured while standing within the bight of a rope. 40% are due to lines breaking or tightening unexpectedly. Add the lack of communication component to injuries and there could be a catalogue of disasters waiting to happen.

It is also highly likely (though not necessarily) that the ship was multicultural. Therefore difficulties ranging from inadequacies in comprehension, expression or inadequacies of 'Maritime English'. (There has been considerable losses at sea, some might say due to continued lack of communication). To the company it means loss of time, money and materials to name a few.

Companies would benefit by ensuring personnel are proficient in Maritime English and possibly by suggesting that Maritime English becomes a criterion for employment.

The overall 'company' belief is that Maritime English should not vary according to rank. The 'standard' should as a basic minimum reflect the rank. The captain should be well versed in 'Maritime English'.

SMCP (Standard Marine Communication Phrases) alone does not cover linguistic awareness. It needs to extend to social and cultural elements. It can be difficult from a seafarer’s point of view to put across remotely difficult concepts. SMCP does to some degree facilitate the learning experience. It does not provide linguistic coverage to be able to replace a good knowledge of the English language.

From company and seafarer's perspectives there are challenges which have to be addressed.

The MarTEL Project - Developing Standards for Communication at Sea

A comprehensive account of the MarTEL project and its application is provided in this article. The need and importance of the establishment of International standards of Maritime English Language is provided. The article provides a case for MarTEL to become these International standards. The article also provides an example of a major maritime accident at sea that was caused due to communication errors by the crew on board the ship.

Maritime Test of English Language – C4FF Article

MarTEL offers a new and innovative approach to the Maritime English Language of mariners and port workers across the European Union. Through an interactive online learning platform, MarTEL will create and test a set of accepted standards of Maritime English Language for merchant seafarers whose first language is not English. The MarTEL Project is currently being developed by a consortium of highly experienced European partners; each comes from a different but related background that complements the project perfectly. The consortium includes maritime universities and training institutions as well as private companies which have hold specific experience or expertise in the project’s area.

The Project is supported by the European Union, which has funded the development and research of MarTEL since 2007. The project has received recognition from the EU because it meets several criteria for future development within the union by both encouraging and promoting lifelong learning among adult European learners and promotes the development of linguistic diversity and closer cohesion in Europe. MarTEL’s main aim us to improve safety at sea, which justifies the Projects inclusion within the EU's Leonardo da Vinci Programme.

The core aim of the project intends to produce a series of maritime English language standards at three different levels, which will then be tested via MarTEL online platform, these levels include:

• The Preparation standards will include tests at three levels of proficiency: Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced. All levels will include active skills, such as Speaking, Comprehension and Writing. The content would be based on active learning and on maritime terminology and usage, with little emphasis on grammar.
• The Officer standards will be based on TOEFL 550-550 standards but with content based primarily on either Navigation English or Marine Engineering English. These tests will focus on skill levels considered appropriate for a given type and rank of officer, with less prominence to grammar.
• The Senior Officer standards will be equivalent to TOEFL 550-600 and aimed at the senior officers in charge of vessels over 3000 GRT. The standard will include a section on language requirements for these vessels. All standards for Officer and Senior Officer Levels will give differing levels of importance to different skills and proficiency requirements at various ranks and duties. For example, a Chief Engineer should be competent on comprehension (especially reading) and writing but a more moderate level of speaking may be tolerated.