CFF Maritime Education Division
The Maritime Education division has many years of experience in developing well
assessed and well documented programmes for the education and training of merchant
navy officers based on the international standards with a view to improving safety
at sea.
CFF and TUDEV together with major European players including several
nautical institutions of further and higher education established the maritime education
partnership called MarEDU. MarEDU has established a programme of cooperation
to improve education and training practices in Europe and go about the harmonisation
of merchant navy Officers education and training across Europe.
The MarEDU network has instigated several European and European Union Funded
projects to address specific deficiencies or problems in the maritime sector. These
projects are explained in more detail in this section of the website.
Choose a project from the list below in order to go to its description. You can
also scroll the page.
Safety at Sea (SOS) - Harmonisation of Education and Training of Merchant Navy Officers.
[Project in Post-development Phase]
Budget: 327,000 Euros
Funding Stream: EU Leonardo Pilot Programme
Time Period: 2005 – 2007
The SOS project is a European partnership project to harmonise education and training
of merchant navy officer and to address various deficiencies and problems
in current requirements and practices in (predominately) European Union countries
in the maritime sector.
The SOS project initiated the harmonisation of education and training of merchant
navy officers through the instigation of several nautical institutions of further
and higher education in Turkey (TUDEV – Institute of maritime Studies), England
(South Tyneside College/Northumbria University), Scotland (Glasgow College of Nautical
Studies/Strathclyde University) and Norway (Tramso University College). Furthermore
the Centre for Factories of the Future have developed a Leonardo funded project
to improve safety at sea through improved education and training. The project also
addresses compatibility of the training programmes in the countries involved.
The rationale for the project was based around the IMO findings (13.01.2005,
www.imo.org/human element and www.itu.edu/new/acad/tuzla/safety) that 80% of accidents
at sea are caused by human error. It is reported that mistakes are usually made
not because of faulty, deficient or inadequate regulations, but because the regulations
and standards, that do exist, have been ignored. The IMO accident analysis reports
clearly indicates the causes of many of the accidents at sea are due to deficiencies
in education and training of seafarers or disregard for current standards and regulations.
There are also severe shortages of well qualified seafarers at different levels
of seniority and yet there are many young people unemployed in Europe. The education
and training of merchant navy ratings and officers are complex systems of requirements
composed primarily of academic (underpinning knowledge), vocational (practical sea
service skills) and additional knowledge and skills in seamanship and ancillary
skills such as fire fighting and so forth. The specific aims of this project
are to:
- improve safety at sea and hence reducing loss of life and money,
- help young unemployed people of both sexes to find good and well paid jobs in the
shipping industry as Officers Of Watch and have the opportunity to progress to higher
ranks,
- incorporate internationally accepted academic qualifications at technician level
so that young people enrolled on the proposed programmes, after a period of time
working on board of vessels, could seek good jobs working on-shore or pursuing new
careers,
- create further opportunities for the graduates of these programmes to obtain university
degrees in appropriate subjects so that they can find better jobs that require such
qualifications,
- develop compatible, complete and up-to-date education and training programmes which
include all the international standards for education aspects as well as vocational
skills and professional practice, incorporating the latest results from international,
European and national projects/programmes,
- provide opportunities for the partner countries to improve and harmonise their existing
programmes and build-in transnational pathways so that cadets and staff could transfer
from one partner country to another and to apply similar staff training programmes
for assessors and verifiers and provide opportunities for them to acquire recognised
qualifications.
Partners: C4FF, TUDEV, Glasgow College of Nautical Studies, South Tyne
College, Tromso University College
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M'AIDER - Maritime Aids' Development for Emergency Responses
[Project Running]
Budget: 400,000 Euros
Funding Stream: EU Leonardo Transfer of Innovation Programme
Time Period: 2009 - 2011
M'AIDER is the second phase of the SOS project that mainly concerns those aspects
of human error related to emergency situations which can be corrected by
preparing a whole range of scenarios, simulating actual accidents, incidents and
near-misses.
The intention is that the scenarios would lead to identifications of the causes
of accidents and incidents and through training these causes will be removed.
The M'AIDER project proposal concerns transfer of innovation from existing
reports concerning accidents and incidents for creation of a range of scenarios
for application in simulators relating to emergency situation. In the recent meetings
of IMO MSC a great deal of emphasis was placed on human elements, particularly how
human errors have led to great loss of life and property. It has also been acknowledged
that emergency situations and use of simulators have not been fully taken into consideration
and that industry would immensely benefit from a user-friendly and accessible training
tool and programme for its sea-going personnel focusing on emergency situations;
the causes for this situation to arise and how they are handled.
In this proposal the intention is to gather the existing knowledge regarding accidents
and incidents in a systematic manner throughout the partnership and break them into
several categories preparing a knowledge-base of the selected scenarios, and train
two pilot groups composed of those working on board vessels using advanced bridge,
engine as well as integrated and full mission simulators. The intention is to video
the scenarios as being implemented as a basis for visual training and feedback sessions
in the training process. An existing software and internet platform will be used
to transport these simulation trainings for greater access throughout the partnership
as well as outside of it. The platforms have got facilities for e-learning as well
as e-assessment for self assessment. What makes this transfer of innovation unique
is that it focuses on emergency situations and creates scenarios by categorizing
these situations, for instance, distinguishing between various types of
violation and error types, including different types of mistakes and slips.
AIMS
- To improve safety at sea and at ports by identifying emergency situations known
so far and create a knowledge base of scenarios for training of seafarers at officer
level and higher ranks.
- To develop exercises based on scenarios created for application in bridge, engine
room, propulsion areas as well as in integrated and full mission simulators.
- To transfer the knowledge that already exists in the form of a software suite together
with an existing internet e-learning/assessment to integrate the scenarios and exercises
created based on aims 1 and 2.
Partners: C4FF, University of Strathclyde, TUDEV Institute of Maritime Studies,
Lithuanian Maritime Academy, Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz, IDEC
and Spinaker.
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Short Course Programmes in Automated Systems in Shipping (SURPASS)
[Project Running]
Budget: 400,000 Euros
Funding Stream: EU Leonardo Transfer of Innovation Programme
Time Period: 2009 - 2011
This project addresses an inadequacy in the education and training of merchant navy
officers, and that human operators rarely understand all the characteristics
of automated systems and their limitations, and to exceed plans to improve maritime
training by proving knowledge, skills and understanding of automated systems using
e-learning and assessment platforms in the learning process.
The main aim is to transfer the innovation already developed in the design,
delivery and assessment of short courses in order to fill the gap created as the
result of emergence and application of the automated systems in the education
and training of seafarers by the provision of a training course enabling them to
have a full understanding of automated systems and these systems’ weaknesses
and limitations.
The central tangible outcome is an innovative course in automation with 8 modules,
each concerning a particular level of depth in knowledge, skills and understating,
for a given level of seniority and concerning a given job function. The second outcome
is expected to be the intended adaptation of an e-learning platform with assessment
facilities currently under development in E-GMDSS (2006) or use of an earlier platform
developed in a previous EU funded project by one of the partners. The team building
module may replace the existing non-standard, but on high demand courses such as
Bridge Resource Management and Ship Handling. Since the intention is to adapt e-learning
and e-assessment both as training and learning methodologies as well as a self-learning
and self-assessment tools, the project products would be able to target a wider
audience particularly for active seafarers being on board vessels for long periods.
The Impact will be substantial as this project responds to an internationally
acknowledged problem which the partnership is confident of resolving and since the
social partners including employers and ship owners are involved in the proposed
project the impact is expected to include widespread use of the course in partner
and other EU countries.
Partners: Centre for Factories of the Future, TUDEV Institute of Maritime
Studies, Satakunta University, Maritime University of Szczecin, Spinaker and Plymouth University.
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Maritime Tests of English Language (MarTEL)
[Project in Post-development Phase]
Budget: 400,000 Euros
Funding Stream: EU Leonardo Transfer of Innovation Programme
Time Period: November 2007 – October 2009
At present no international or European standard for Maritime English exists; therefore
MarTEL has been created as a system of Maritime Tests of English Language.
This project intends to establish a set of standards by transfer of innovation from
existing English language standards and maritime English model courses such as the
IMO’s, SMCP (Standard Maritime Communication Phrases). It was noted that
deficiencies in maritime English caused accidents and therefore needed to be taught
seriously in the basic and the main training of all chapters of the IMO’s STCW
Code of practice.
The main aim of MarTEL is to develop a series of Maritime English language
standards incorporating the IMO’s SMCP, at three different standards: i)
Foundation – Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced, ii) Officer – Deck and Engineering,
and iii) Senior Officers – Deck and Engineering, also senior officers at port and
pilots. The tests will be piloted in at least two partner countries (Turkey and
the UK). The other partner countries with experience in developing and testing of
maritime English will be encouraged to pilot the tests in their own institutions.
The core material outcomes are - i) The Foundation standards which
include tests at three levels of proficiency: Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced.
All levels will include active skills i.e. Speaking, Comprehension and Writing.
The content would be based on active learning and on maritime terminology and usage
with less emphasis on grammar. The Foundation test at advanced level will benchmark
the well-known English qualification standards TOEFL 500 and IALTS 5.5 in terms
of testing methods rather than their contents, ii) The Officer standards
will be based on TOEFL 550 and IALTS 6.0 standards but content will be primarily
based on Navigation English and Marine Engineering English. These
tests will focus on all skills but with less emphasis on grammar, iii) The senior
officers standards will be equivalent to TOEFL 600 or IALTS 6.6. For the
senior officers in charge of vessels over 3000 GRT, the standard will include a
section on language requirements for these vessels and the term Unlimited will be
added to the end of the qualification designation. All standards for Officer and
Senior Officer Levels will have different weights on different skills and different
proficiency requirements at different 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. The success would lead to vocational
qualifications in Maritime English and usage which is expected to be recognised
Europe-wide.
To ensure these developments are implemented effectively it is proposed:
- to develop supporting training programmes for the intended standards by formation
of pilot groups initially in one of the partner countries and then re-run them and/or
validate them in other partner countries,
- to establish a network of transnational partners to support the development of the
project, to surpass the minimum of standard of maritime English set by IMO,
- to design a programme for the trainers and assessors development, and their certification,
for application of the intended standards and subsequent tests, as well as for the
internal assessment and verification process, in line with European vocational qualifications
for Assessors and Verifiers,
- to facilitate secondment of trainers and assessors to partners’ establishments on
short assignments in order to familiarise the trainers and assessors with the necessary
skills and good practice,
- to form a committee to monitor the progress and make the necessary changes when
required, applying a quality manual instigated in the course of developing
this proposal, and
- to develop bridges for maritime personnel, through these standards so that they
can take advantage of other programmes, some leading to higher vocational qualifications.
All tests for officer and senior officer levels will have weight on different skills.
The officers are expected to reach certain levels of proficiency and competency
at given ranks/duties by their companies or potential employers.
Partners: Centre for Factories of the Future, TUDEV Institute of Maritime
Studies, Satakunta University, Glasgow College of Nautical Sciences, Tromsø University
College, Maritime University of Szczecin, Spinaker, University of Strathclyde and
Efficacy.
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An E-Learning system for GMDSS (EGMDSS)
[Project in Post-development Phase]
Budget: 400,000 Euros
Funding Stream: EU Leonardo Pilot Programme
Time Period: October 2006 – September 2008
Put simply EGMDSS is the quickest and simplest route to learning and understanding
marine GMDSS communications. It is essential for both professional and amateur sailors
to be proficient in the use and operation of emergency equipment no matter the type
of vessel.
With EGMDSS all sailors are able to improve their safety at sea with our
online Short Range Certificate (SRC) training course. Through the application
of online simulators and professionally produced tests the user is able to learn
about the GMDSS VHF radio, the NAVTEX receiver, SART and EPIRB.
All EGMDSS online courses are available FREE at www.egmdss.com, and will allow you to practice for your
SRC licence or simply refresh your knowledge before going to sea.
It should be noted that the provision of vocational education and continuing vocational
training for the SRC is mandatory for seafarers operating vessels of up to
300 GRT within 30 Nm from coast.
The projects’ target group is the 2 million seafarers in EU that are either starting
their nautical training or have to refresh their knowledge and skills at least once
a year. Seafarers can be both amateurs and professionals. The knowledge required
for the SRC can be obtained through either self-training, nautical education
institutions or internal training conducted at larger marine companies. To obtain
the SRC award, a candidate must be able to competently operate four different
GMDSS communication devices which are VHF DSC, NAVTEX, EPIRB
and SART. These devices are only used for emergencies at sea which occur
rarely. Therefore, the knowledge of operation of these devices tends to fade over
time and should be regularly refreshed to ensure safety of crew, passengers and
freight, even though this is not a legal requirement.
PUT PICTURE OF SITE’S HOME PAGE
Check out www.egmdss.com for
more details
Partners: Spinaker, C4FF, TUDEV Institute of Maritime Studies, Facultad de
ciencias nauticas, SE.MA2., Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz, Maritime University
of Szczecin.
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E-Learning system for GMDSS VET (E-GMDSSVET)
[Project Running]
Budget: 400,000 Euros
Funding Stream: EU Leonardo Development of Innovation Programme
Time Period: December 2008 – November 2010
The E-GMDSSVET project will offer online GMDSS courses to mariners
with a dedicated e-learning system. The consortium will develop a complete online
LRC course with all the GMDSS communication devices simulators needed as the GMDSS
courses overlaps with the SRC course that already exists. The LRC course
is at a different knowledge level and together they will enhance the existing GMDSS
e-learning system. All results will be available at www.egmdss.com in at least 10 language versions.
The project was developed due to the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
(GMDSS) that has been fully implemented worldwide since February 1999. It specifies
the GMDSS communication equipment for marine vessels, and rescue procedures for
vessels and humans in order to maximise their safety at sea. People working in marine
areas include; seafarers, fishermen, yacht captains, sailing boat skippers, marina
workers, nautical science students/cadets, who must be qualified through different
VET to operate the specified equipment.
All mariners must obtain the appropriate type of GMDSS certificate, however
the access to the required knowledge is limited as traditionally VET is expensive
and distance learning is not feasible except for the SRC course, which doesn’t encourage
regular refreshing of knowledge and lifelong learning. This is crucial to ensure
safety of the crew, passengers and freight, even though this is not a legal requirement.
GMDSS VET providers can’t offer distance learning, because they do not use the appropriate
technology for this to be undertaken. Moreover they are dependent on expensive computer
simulators of the GMDSS communication devices, without royalty-free licenses.
The aim of the project is to offer both an online GMDSS courses to mariners and to
offer a dedicated e-learning system to GMDSS VET providers to be able to
maintain their knowledge of these courses.
The partnership will develop a complete online LRC course with all the GMDSS
communication devices simulators needed that will enhance the existing GMDSS e-learning
system at www.egmdss.com.
The products of this project are therefore focused on two target groups: mariners
and GMDSS VET providers. The intended impact on mariners is to increase
their interest in initially GMDSS VET and knowledge updating. The perceived impact
on GMDSS VET providers is the usage of the GMDSS e-learning system to offer their
GMDSS courses online. This project should lead to an improved safety at sea resulting
in a lower loss of human lives and material damage.
Check out www.egmdss.com for
more details
Partners: Spinaker, C4FF, TUDEV Institute of Maritime Studies, Facultad de
ciencias nauticas, SE.MA2., Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz, Maritime University
of Szczecin.
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Professional, Industrial, Competence and sKills – UPdating (PICK-UP)
[Project proposal ready for Submission]
Budget: 400,000 Euros
Funding Stream: EU Leonardo Transfer of Innovation Programme
Time Period: 2010 – 2012
PICK-UP concerns the updating of the knowledge, skills and the understanding of
those working in the water transportation sector. The proposal responds to the needs
of the sector for training of employees and employers, paying particular attention
to the training and re-training needs of smaller companies and self-employed.
Due to the nature of the PICK- UP project for skills updating, it was divided into
three parts. In part one, a classification system will be developed grouping
various short course programmes under specific headings, viz., safety, security,
specialised, legal, management and so forth. Through cross-referencing techniques,
developed as part of an earlier European Union (EU) funded project (Eurotecnet and
Force), a matrix table will be produced identifying where these courses are delivered
within the partner countries and later the courses offered in the surrounding countries
would be added to the database, including information such as fees, frequency of
delivery, location and other relevant details. Through a harmonisation plan, the
titles and content of these courses will be examined and a comprehensive set of
training programmes will be developed. Learning materials will be gathered together
and additional materials developed. Other resources (equipment, simulators, software,
charts, manuals, etc) will be incorporated and shared among the partner countries
and will be made available to other European Union member states as part of the
intended valorisation.
The second part of the project concerns sharing of resources and value added activities
manifested in jointly planned and/or joint delivery of these courses, providing
a golden opportunity for training the trainers, in an efficient and effective manner.
The third part relates to the development of specific training and re-training courses
on newly emerging requirements, particularly relating to national and international
conventions and security requirements, specifically those introduced after 9/11,
for instance, requirements of USA coastguards or specific ports relating to security.
The project provides an opportunity for partners to recognize each others’ certificates.
This is an important objective of the project.
To ensure these developments are successful, it is proposed to establish a network
of partners including the relevant authorities to ensure these programmes receive
the support needed. The work will commence with the review of an existing needs
analysis report and identification of urgent short courses which will incorporate
the latest requirements of bodies such as the International Maritime Organisation
(IMO). There will be a training programme with support from partners for
the trainers and their certification in line with European vocational qualifications
for trainers/assessors and those who will be involved with internal and external
examinations. It is agreed that a serious attention will be paid to provision of
pathways, through ‘integrated short course programme’, to technician qualifications
and also through existing routes to higher qualifications. The reason for this is
the anticipated shortages of qualified seafarers in the near future.
Partners: C4FF, TUDEV, Glasgow College of Nautical Science, Blackpool Fylde
College, Tromso University College, FIMS, DIMS with others partners also being considered.
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HELping english Language develOpment in Shipping and mAritime Industries Leading
tO impRoved safety (HELLO SAILOR)
[Project proposal ready for Submission]
Budget: 400,000 Euros
Funding Stream: EU Leonardo Transfer of Innovation Programme
Time Period: 2010 – 2012
This is a Language Competency project to improve the Maritime English language skills
of:
- young people aged 14-18 years old wishing to enter the Merchant Navy as Lycee/lise
cadets,
- those embarking on a career as Merchant Navy Officers and ratings, and
- those working on board vessels and at ports seeking to update their knowledge, skills
and understanding of Maritime English.
The project outcome will incorporate the development of a series of English (foundation
and maritime) language training modules at lycee/lise level at one of the partner
centres and a similar, but one-year programme at another maritime centre involved
with the education and training of merchant navy officers including all ranks.
For the latter, the English tuition would concentrate on three levels of proficiency:
Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced simultaneously. All levels would concentrate
on active skills i.e. Speaking, Comprehension and Writing. The content would be
based on maritime terminology. For the former, in the first two years the focus
would be on all skills with more emphasis of grammar. The next two years would concentrate
on the application of maritime English.
All courses would lead to vocational qualification recognised internationally. The
trainees would also become aware of the latest changes to rules and regulations
in the maritime industry commensurate with their ranking.
The project was developed by several industrial and education/training organisations
in Turkey, the UK and Norway. The project manager at the co-ordinating (technical)
organisation has substantial experience of instigating and implementing EU/European
funded projects. Representatives of Contracting and Coordinating organisations have
already visited all partners and had at least on two occasions met the other partners.
Partners: C4FF, TUDEV, Glasgow College of Nautical Science, Blackpool Fylde
College, Tromso University College, FIMS, DIMS with others partners also being considered.
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European Boat Design Innovation Group (EBDIG)
[Project Running]
Budget: 400,000 Euros
Funding Stream: EU Leonardo Transfer of Innovation Programme
Time Period: 2009 – 2011
Design and manufacturing innovation are the keys to maintaining the competitiveness
of the European boat industry in world markets. Therefore European boat manufacturers'
must be able to respond to their customers and offer exciting innovative products.
They will have to learn to react quickly to changing consumer preferences and continuous
R&D (ibid). The opportunity to transfer and combine innovations from the automotive
industry to the boat industry, will result in optimised design methodologies, leading
to more cost effective design cycles.
The aim is to provide marine industry professionals with the skills and infrastructure
they need to understand and exploit the opportunities presented by design, ergonomics,
sustainable materials and ICT, to excite/capture consumers’ imaginations and respond
to societal issues.
The objectives are to use an e-learning platform
www.ebdig.eu (mobile phone video conference, moodle etc) to transfer innovation
from the automotive industry in design visualisation; human factors and telematics;
and sustainable materials via 3 courses and a networking framework.
The partnership includes an Advisory Group, made up of the four largest ship builders
in the UK (representing 80% of the market), an SME and the British Marine Foundation
will govern EBDIG. They will be joined by industry & research institutions in each
country. Delivery partners, educational institutions and small and multi- national
companies representing the UK, Italy, Austria, Netherlands, Turkey and France. They
will contribute existing projects in, marine, automotive, telematics, ergonomics,
design and e-learning to develop the EBDIG materials/infrastructure.
The project outcomes will include an Industry survey (FR, NL, TU, AT, IT, UK), courses
developed in design visualisation; human factors and telematics; and sustainable
materials as well as an Industry pilot for each country. Dissemination of a recommended
methodology for the boat industry design cycle is also planned.
The impact of the project will be such that there will be greater understanding
and awareness of the needs of the boat Industry in Austria, France, Netherlands,
Turkey, UK and Italy. There will be better trained boat industry staff that will
be more aware of emerging technologies and techniques. There will be a boat industry
standardised qualifications in visualisation, human factors and telematics and sustainable
materials.
Partners: Coventry University, KKG, TU Delft, University of Genoa, Ricardo,
TUDEV Institute of Maritime studies in collaboration with C4FF.
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TRAIN merchant navy Cadets for Certificate of CompetenCy (TRAIN 4 Cs) - 2007
[Project in Post-development Phase]
Budget: 58000 Euros
Funding Stream: EU Leonardo Mobility Programme
Time Period: 2007
This project has enabled improved safety at sea through a mobility programme involving
the transfer of 16 cadets from TUDEV in Turkey to Glasgow College of Nautical Studies
(GCNS) in Scotland, on a pilot basis. The period of placement was for 14
weeks commencing from January 2007 to May 2007. The authorities in Scotland (and
other countries in the EU) do not accept several ancillary (safety) courses taken
by the cadets in Turkey as they would wish to be assured that the standard of education
and training in Turkey is the same as those in Scotland. Scotland has supported
Turkey to revise its merchant navy officer programmes and train its staff through
an existing Leonardo Pilot programme (Safety On Sea - SOS). GCNS has also assisted
TUDEV to plan in detail the arrangements for making this proposal a workable programme
of work. The intention is to develop other proposals to transfer cadets within the
partnership and extend the partnership in the near future.
The cadets had an interruption during their training in Scotland to allow the cadets
to take their GASM examinations in February 2007 and their GOC in March 2007. Discussions
were going on between the MCA and Scotland about this intended delay which primarily
came about to ensure that there were no objections by the Turkish authorities in
MCA issuing Certificates of Competency (CoC) before the cadets each has obtained
his Turkish certificate/license. The MCA are also prepared to issue a Certificate
of equivalent Competency (CeC) to Turkish cadets at TUDEV who had undergone the
HND/NVQ/SVQ programme of education and Training provided they had passed their GASM
examination in Turkey. The CeC could then be transformed into a CoC.
Partners: TUDEV Institute of Maritime Studies, C4FF, Glasgow College of Nautical
Studies.
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TRAIN merchant navy Cadets for Certificate of CompetenCy (TRAIN 4 Cs) - 2010
[Project Running]
Budget: 39000 Euros
Funding Stream: EU Leonardo Mobility Programme
Time Period: 2010
This mobility programme is similar to the initial TRAIN4Cs in 2007 that will improve
the safety at sea by transferring cadets from TUDEV in Turkey to Glasgow College
of Nautical Studies (GCNS) in Scotland.
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