“IT’S NOT LIKE A FAIRYTALE WITH DOLPHINS CONSTANTLY LEAPING BY THE BOW”

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 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

the pupils a glimpse of life onboard and the chance to answer questions. Most of the young people who enter the youth programme come directly from Danish schools. “Most of them are only 19-20 years old when we say goodbye to them three years later, and joining a ship is a big thing. Maybe they haven’t been out travelling on their own before. That is why we talk about very concrete things like: How do you sign on? How do you get to the ship? What does a contract look like? What do you need to bring with you? And so on,” says Helle Bak Poulsen.

CULTURE SHOCK CAN BE CUSHIONED

Many new routines and circumstances that differ from those at home are waiting at sea. Helle Bak Poulsen says they always focus on certain themes that the new seafarers find especially important to know about before joining a ship:

What is the internet connection onboard like? Is it possible to play computer games? Is it possible to stay in contact with friends and family at home?

“When questions like those appear, we talk about whether having internet on board is a good or bad thing. We underline that it’s their responsibility to take part in the community and engage with their new colleagues on board. They must be open to all the new people they meet,” Helle Bak Poulsen says. It is also important to prepare the new seafarers for the work environment, and how they can contribute to creating a healthy work environment and good mental well-being on board:

“We work with different cases that give us the occasion to talk about the special jargon that there is on some ships. We underline that it’s okay to put your foot down if you feel that your personal boundaries are getting crossed,” Helle Bak Poulsen says and continues:

“We spend time talking about all the different nationalities you meet at sea. And we talk about what nationalities you typically meet in different shipping companies.”

Another focus in getting the young seafarers ready is to soften a potential cultural shock by improving their English skills.

“It is crucial to be able to master the English language; it is one of the most important skills to bring on board. Everything they will be dealing with on board is in English: information about cargo, different instructions and so on. It’s a work language but it’s also the ticket to becoming a co-creator of a good work environment. And it’s important to master in order to succeed in being inclusive and polite to your colleagues and contribute to a healthy work environment.”

As part of the ferry navigator training, students are given a ship’s hull and a box of wires and other stuff. They have to build, program and optimize the engine and show that they can keep the ship afloat and sail it by computer. The practical task is an effort to make the training reflect the work on a ship. At MARSTAL NAVIGATION SCHOOL, students are prepared so that the transition from school bench to ship is not a big culture shock. There is a particular focus on teaching students to use English as a working language. ”English is also the gateway to ensuring a good working environment on board, because it’s the language that everyone speaks,” says headmaster Helle Bak Poulsen. Helle Bak Poulsen is headmaster at MARSTAL NAVIGATION SCHOOL on Ærø, where a total of 255 students take the maritime beginner’s course and the navigator’s course. ”It’s a real advantage that we have two groups at the school that benefit from each other. The newcomers have important role models in the older and more experienced students,” says the principal.

MANDATORY MENTORING WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

“It’s a fantastic possibility. The challenge is to let the pupils know that it exists. It would be great to make the mentoring agreement that DANISH SHIPPING is behind more visible. Maybe it would help to make mentoring agreements mandatory. If that is done, I think it could really have an effect. If mentoring agreements are formalised, it means that every young seafarer would get a mentor that they can contact before, during, and after their first signing. I think that would give them lots of security. If it is made mandatory, it means the youngster wouldn’t have to discover or find the mentoring agreement themselves. That is a great advantage. It should be as natural to have a mentor as it is having your sea service letter, passport, contract, and other important papers.”