Captain Ajay Achuthan, author of the widely acclaimed book ‘If the Learner Has Not Learnt
The Teacher Has Not Taught’, is the Principal of MASSA Maritime Academy,Navi Mumbai.
He is also the Proprietor of Synergistic Solutions with a mission of empowering people and
organisations in living up to their full potential, synergising with nature.He is an Extra Master
and Fellow of the Nautical Institute and Company of Master Mariners of India.With several
academic and professional laurels to his credit, he is now enriching the profession and
the industry through the noble profession ‘Teaching’. ‘Every Human Being is born to Be a
Teacher’. But, these days, ignoring the material benefits available in other sectors, only
those who have professional devotion and commitment to the society take up teaching as a profession. And Capt Achuthan is teaching a wide range of topics for the last 14 years. Jobships.com is glad to have him as its ‘Home Page Guest’.

Jobships: Sir, several reforms have been introduced in the field of maritime education and training during the last two years. Benchmarking of Maritime Education and Training Institutes (METI), Ship-Owners’ training commitment under tonnage tax scheme, modalities regarding BSc (Nautical Science) course through IGNOU, Creation MOU with shipping companies by Institutes for afloat training, Exit Examination of GP Ratings and creation of Indian Maritime University are prominent amongst them. Being an academi
cian, what are your views on benchmarking of METIs?

Capt Achuthan: It is prudent to remember the purpose for which we all are here! We are
here to run the trade. In the words of the Secretary General of IMO, without shipping, half
the world will starve and the rest will freeze. Without competent seafarers, the trade alone
can’t render the services. As training Institutes it’s our job to identify, build and enhance
those seafarers. As a seafarer, for meits payback time.Its about giving rather than taking.
Viewed from the above perspective, benchmarking of MET’ Vdone by Credit Rating
Agencies with pre-conceived standards;are carried out by people who do not have proven
track record in instructional techniques, or with professional experience in shipping. The only
requirement of benchmarking should be based on the ability to assess the quantum of learning. The quantum of learning that is happening is to be assessed and should be given more weightage than giving importance to the infrastructure, ambience, signboards, direction signs, etc. The DGS policy, discussions and directives that involve high infrastructure cost, in isolation, will not be of good use in grooming competent seafarers. (Pointing correspondent sitting nearby) I can train her to be the 2nd Officer of a ship within one year. High quality education and low cost training is what is expected.Benchmarking should not become a tool for propagating high cost infrastructure for low-level education. At Nalanda and Takshshila high quality learning took place under a tree also. The present benchmarking is insufficient and inaccurate, as it does not address assessment of learning. .

Jobships: The ‘Benchmarking’ of Institutes is now mandatory. Would you please comment on the impact of this on the quality of maritime education and training?

Capt Achuthan: After the privatization of Maritime training sector in the year 1996, more than130 institutions are conducting various types of Pre and Post sea training across the country. Monitoring and controlling this is not an easy task. A wide variation in quality of training has been observed among those Maritime training Institutions. In order to maintain uniformity and consistency in high quality of maritime training and education, benchmarking is desirable. Shipping industry can expect an improvement in quality of education imparted by the graded institutions. It will lead a healthy competition among the institutes and increase marketability of Indian Seafarers in International Shipping scenario. However this has to be carried out by seafaring professionals with a passion for maritime training. An association of Training Institutes should be made responsible to create effective and efficient performers according to the demand of the shipping industry.
Under the present regime, grading is compulsory for the pre-sea training institutions and not for the post-sea training institutions. This in a way is good as an Indian National in interior India can get to evaluate the Institute. However, is the information given to that national accurate? For example, how can a brand new institute be graded, without training completing even a single training day? Just based on infrastructure.

Jobships: How do you judge the utility of the ‘Exit Examination’ introduced for GP Ratings?

Capt Achuthan: On this side of the world there is a predominant compliance culture. We wear seat belts because it’s compulsory; we stop at traffic lights because it’s compulsory. Similarly, given a choice, the average Indian wouldn’t like to take exams. Many training institute have taken DG Shipping and the industry for a ride, in say modular and pre sea courses, taking advantage of the authority given to them. They have an examination culture that does not evaluate the competency on the job. Thus the poor seafarer suffers. He thinks this convenience of appearing for an invalid exam is the institute’s gift to him. In fact it’s a seafarers death knell.
Like a BP apparatus measures the BP at that given time only, an examination is an instrument that examines learning. Yes an Exit exam is very important. However it cannot stipulate the future condition or performance of the person. For this reason, in the US, examinations lead to qualifications and not competence. It is considered as one of the yardstick to assess competency in actual job. When the maritime education was opened for private participation, without strict guidelines for assessment of competency, it was a sure shot way to create more accidents on board. This is being experienced today.
The purpose of examination should be to assess the participant’s knowledge and skills on particular course offered by training institutions. Candidate should be graded so that they know where they stand and where to improve. Experienced professional bodies that have the ability to certify the participants should conduct the examination. On board assessment should further attest the competence.
But it is very sad that right now there is no such body or association of maritime training institute for the purpose. We still have to depend on Government or govt. appointed agencies to assess the participants. Unfortunately very few persons from the DG shipping have had a career in teaching and training. DGS should make the decision makers have at least a year of training before they are allowed to participate in creating and implementing legislation. They have done just the opposite. They have gone and voided a requirement that DG surveyors are to undergo a training for trainers course if he has to teach at an institute.
As suggested earlier Government should encourage the training institutions to formulate a self-regulatory body to assess competency in accordance with the demand of the industry. Thus the Initiative is a good one. However what is missing is a statement of purpose, an alignment with a mission and values. All persons employed or deployed for this purpose should sign at attested statement committing to their credibility.

Jobships: No doubt, we are concerned about the plight of candidates who are not getting a berth to complete their on board training. But after opening the Maritime Education and Training to private sector, is it fair on the part of Shipping Administration to assign the burden of finding berths to the Institutes?

Capt Achuthan: This is my personal view and is in conflict with the organisation I serve.
In my opinion this has been the right move by the DGS. The industry may not agree at
large. What will help is to identify that the shipping industry, government and the
individual seafarer form the three parts of a triangular organisation called shipping.The
Training institutes job is to create synergy amongst the three. A training institute cannot
exist in isolation. Why is it training personnel if it cannot find jobs for them? This is not
like a graduate scheme wherein any numbers can be enrolled and certified. Graduation
is omni directional, whereas training is unidirectional. This is why the industry and training institute has to work together. This is truly an area where matters have been messed up by the Industry. The industry did not deliver their responsibility in terms of deciding or controlling of training of seafarers. This is because of a lethargy that has been allowed to continue from the past. Post independence. When our industry was a sibling, the general approachv of the government was to protect them. This was achieved through building up infrastructure and public sector participation. Post 1992, this has changed. However the shipping industry still behaves as a child and blames the government for the misgivings, not knowing that they are supposed to be the decision makers. The requirement for governance exists because of the industry and not vice-versa. The other industries have matured but the shipping industry is still a disorganized, dysfunctional or disintegrated sector. This is where INSA, MASSA and FOSMA group of companies can create purposes and make a difference.
Though regulatory functions are with the government, an industry serving the people cannot function as sub-servient to the regulatory mechanism. It is time for the industry to be a self-regulatory body rather than being a dependent one. One of the insights that I have identified out of conducting a Team Management course is that, the dependent people do not have the choice of interdependency. This is a choice for the dependant. Thus the dependent Shipping Industry cannot be inter-dependent. A strong Association of METs integrated with the Government, MASSA, INSA and FOSMA should provide the answer to the decision-making crisis they are into. The future lies in integration or else the industry will collapse under the heavy stress that the demands are posing. Global warming and environmental pollution are burning issues to be taken care of through sensitization in training institutes. The national shipping policy has not given enough thought about these issues. We need a dynamic integrated mechanism of METIs, MASSA, INSA and FOSMA to create infrastructure for training institutions, policy formulation and decision making for training manpower depending on world trade demands. This system can create and identify training berths onboard, identify trainers, organize ‘Training for Trainers’ and empower Trainers to certify the performers. We can reduce the time for training, by providing the right space.

Jobships: Precisely, would you please specify the dynamic and integrated mechanism that you are referring to?

Capt Achuthan: Maritime University is one answer in short. Long long ago we have established an agricultural university but it took a long time for the maritime university to come into existence. I remember the contents of a book ‘Secret’ in which a chapter ‘Laws of Attraction’ states that we have to create an attraction to get what we want. The recent announcement that a private maritime institute is now and University is to be applauded. What is touching moving and inspiring is that a Master Mariner is chosen as its Vice Chancellor.
The Second Mate’s exam should be equivalent to Graduation; the Mate’s to Post Graduation; the Master’s to an MBA and the Extra Master’s exam should be equivalent to a PhD. The maritime professional qualifications when backed with simultaneous academic qualifications will attract the competent youth. MASSA, INSA, FOSMA and METIs should utilize this opportunity to streamline the maritime education system through the university. The IMO should initiate an international policy for maritime education, like the STCW 1995, which will bring the maritime education under the International Maritime University.
This is a right step and very soon we can create seafarers who can truly understand the UNIVERSE.

Jobships: Efforts on implementation of the provisions of STCW 95 globally has seen its blues and is taking time. Do you think the Maritime University, at its infant stage, will be able to deliver the industry’s demands when there is a heavy shortage of seafarers and Trainers?

Capt Achuthan: (Handing over a copy of his book ‘If the Learner Has Not Learnt The Teacher Has Not Taught’) I can train any number of seafarers provided the industry and government are proactive, and allow a flexi time system. This concept inculcated through a university will truly be a radical step in meeting the demand. I am confident that it will be a success.