– THEME: The young seafarers –
The school’s advanced and realistic simulators give students an insight into what it’s like to steer a ship. Despite the simulators and practical exercises, not everything can be prepared for at school. Many students, for example, have never tried to travel on their own. It can be a big step for many.
“IT’S NOT LIKE A FAIRYTALE WITH DOLPHINS CONSTANTLY LEAPING BY THE BOW” The transition from school desk to work life at sea can be quite a cultural shock to young seafarers. Because of this, MARSTAL NAVIGATION SCHOOL puts in extra effort to give their pupils a realistic picture of the work life waiting ahead of them – a work life they must learn to be part of and navigate. By Kirstine Thye Skovhøj, Journalist
At MARSTAL NAVIGATION SCHOOL, the youngest pupils are just 15-16 years old when they begin their studies. They arrive at the school, get a bed, and unpack their belongings and begin their three years packed with new experiences. After their ordinary seamen’s exam, some of the young people study further to become e.g., ship’s engineer, shipping trainee, broker, or naval officer.. No matter what direction they choose, they will all – at some point – swap their seat at the school desk in Marstal for their first posting.
It can be difficult to prepare 100% for what to expect out there in the real world where simulators and schoolbooks are replaced by new routines and new colleagues, Helle Bak Poulsen, headmaster of MARSTAL NAVIGATION SCHOOL underlines: “It is important that we take part in giving the pupils a realistic perception. We do not want to give them the impression that life at sea is like a fairytale with dolphins constantly leaping by the bow. We want to tell the students what the reality is. It’s of great importance to us that our teachers are all former seafarers. They know what
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they are talking about,” she says and elaborates: “At our school, we have youth education programmes and higher education programmes, which means we can make both formal and informal initiatives between the two groups. It is really an advantage because the younger pupils get some very important role models who are older and more experienced.” The school also has a close cooperation with shipping companies and the Danish Navy, which visits the school once a year for a special day of education that gives
