The IMO Model Course 3.04 deals with the surveys of the shipboard electrical installations. It opens with the section covering the general requirements for survey and certification, explaining how exactly the subject requirements are connected with the provisions of the relevant IMO conventions, while the second section deals with the survey preparation, including all measures that shall be taken prior to commencements of the surveys, use of the associated equipment and tools, hazards involved etc.

The electrical installations are covered in the third section, where the main technical principles that govern the layout of the shipboard electrical systems, are explained in detail, since the sound understating is a prerequisite to any inspection. There are also special requirements to be considered as necessary when dealing with the specific ship categories.

Numerous additional requirements are applicable to the ships with the unattended machinery spaces, since such vessels would normally have the appropriate automation systems installed. Then, the course also provides information on the relevant electrical survey procedures, focusing on their practical aspects, including both traditional and the newly implemented alternative methods.

The course starts with the general introduction outlining the scope. The first section covers the basic safety awareness including the working environment and safety on deck, and social factors. Then next section deals with the fishing methods in use today, such as the dragging and encircling methods, as well as the static gears, and the sequential events.

The fishing systems are covered in the third section, providing the information on the demersal side trawlers, gill net vessels, together with the basic machinery, structures and arrangements. After that, the trainees proceed to the releasing of the fishing gear, catching the fish and recovering the gear. The possible damages to the fishing gear and maintenance are also covered, including the ground rigging shackles, mainlines, branchlines, otterboards, herding bridles and many others.

The safety of the fishing operations is dealt with in a separate big section, where the associated dangers and precautionary measures are discussed. The authors of the course also included the information about the purse seine practices. The course concludes with the practices for the fish processing, considering all hazards involved.

The vessels that operate in both Antarctic and Arctic areas, are normally subjected to the additional risks, unique to those environments. These risks posing the additional challenges to the navigators include, but are not limited, to the harsh weather, poor communication, lack of the good nautical charts, and other means of navigation. In addition to that, the rescue operations in these areas are very costly and difficult.

It shall also be noted that the cold temperatures prevailing in the regions directly affect the effectiveness of the deck machinery as well as the emergency equipment. The ship hull and propulsion arrangements experience additional loads caused by the accumulating ice. The content of this model course will provide necessary training to the navigating officers working in the Polar waters.

Those who have successfully completed the course, will know and understand the essential requirements to all components of the ship from its stability and hull construction to the firefighting and lifesaving features, and will be able to effectively contribute to the safety of the ship operation, considering all additional difficulties and challenges in the Polar waters and how to cope with them when handling their vessels.

The present IMO Model Course is covering the training scope as stated within the IMO Res. A.703(17). The trainees, who have successfully completed all parts of the course and passed the exam, will be considered proficient in operating the shipboard GMDSS equipment. They will be assigned primary responsibility to all communications during the incidents.

Taking into account the huge number of the problems commonly experienced in the subject systems resulting from the false alerts, due attention will be paid to the training covering the avoidance of the unintentional alert transmission as well as on the established procedures to be followed for mitigation of the effects caused by such transmission. The trainees are expected to have some basic knowledge of the shipboard radiocommunication equipment and also have some elementary PC skills.

The course is aimed at the people assigned with the radio duties on board their vessels and participating in the GMDSS communications – they are required to be in possession of the GMDSS certificate satisfying all relevant requirements of the ITU Radio Regulations. All necessary areas of the GMDSS training have been covered within this course.

The present IMO Model Course is dealing with the on-board assessment, considered one of the most important aspects of the working on the ship. That is why it opens with the section underlining the need for the assessment and explaining its objective and scope; note that the relationship of the subject course with all other IMO model courses is also explained, together with the requirements commonly applicable to such assessments.

The definitions of the shipboard assessment, as well as the performance objectives, measures, and standards are provided. The three sub-steps of the performance objective have been identified in the next section of the course, followed with the one where the performance measures and standards are determined. After that, the students will proceed to the preparation of the assessment package and the assessment process.

The scope of the pre-assessment meeting is described in the following section, together with the established procedures and associated criteria and standards. Covering the important aspect of shipboard work, the course is a must-pass for every mariner intending to join the ship and the content shall be conveyed to them as necessary.

The marine environmental awareness, to which the content of this IMO model course is devoted, is intended to represent the significant input of the humans to the protection of the environment. That is the reason why the associated training shall cover the both aspects of the contemporary maritime transportation industry, namely the care for the environment and the value of the human performance.

One of the missions of the IMO as part of the UN is, among others, promotion of the environmentally sound shipping. The training materials compiled by the authors of this course will offer students a proper knowledge and due understanding of the significance and diversity of the entire marine environment together with the awareness of the impacts that the modern maritime industry has on the environment.

The course also covers the applicable regulations applied by the IMO and gives valuable instructions on how the compliance could be achieved. It is also intended to stimulate the responsibility of the shipboard personnel to use the options contributing to the above mentioned environmentally-friendly maritime shipping. Recommended to all crew members and shore support personnel.

The file contains the draft IMO Model Course 1.31 plus the compendium. There are ten major sections in the present course. The first section covers the essentials of the shipboard radio equipment and systems including the definitions, classification of these systems and their purpose, terminal equipment and signals, modulation and noise stability, error protection, electronic compatibility, measuring methods etc.

The second section focuses on the radio communication equipment such as the SART, EPIRB, NAVTEX receivers and VHF radio installations, INMARSAT and so many others. The microprocessors are dealt with in the third section of the course with the tasks of the microprocessor systems, system architecture, direct memory access and other aspects. The fourth section is dealing with the electronic means of navigation, starting with the basic navigation concepts, and then going through all equipment used on board modern ships.

The significant part of the course is devoted to the shipborne radar including their working principles, structure scheme, functions, and components. The rest of the course acquaints the trainees with the shipboard radionavigation systems, regulatory framework and established radio communication procedures, and maintenance of the equipment installed on board ships as part of the GMDSS.

The material contained in the present IMO Model course is arranged in several modules covering all aspects of the security awareness that shall be possessed by the personnel engaged in the port operations and assigned with the security duties as part of their day to day operation. The first module provides general introduction to the subject and explains the operations of the ships and ports together with the associated conditions, and the ongoing patterns and threats. The second module covers the general maritime security policy while the third module concentrates on the security responsibilities including ones of the ship and port facility security officers.

Upon completion of the above modules, the trainees will proceed to the next one where the PFSP, standing for the port facility security plan, is explained, with the basic assessment tools, preparation techniques and tips on implementation of the plan. The next module focuses on the port facility security actions – note that the cargo handling procedures as per the IMDG Code are also covered here. The security equipment is the topic of the sixth module, followed by the one where the threats are identified, recognized and responded…