Assessing Seafarer's Competence

(Eric Raeng)

This book is in titled "Assessing Seafarer's Competence" that is been written by Erik
Raeng and publish Philippine Foundation for Maritime Teaching Aids, Inc. Printed in
the Philippines by Arts and Letters Press (Lot 9B (#38B) Chestnut St., West Fairview,
Quezon City.

Content

* Relevant International Instruments

1. Safety and responsibility

2. The STCW 1995 Convention

3. The ISM Code

* Assessment

1. Measuring and assessing conpetence

2. Criteria for grading

3. Providing evidence of competence

* The various sources of evidence

1. Historical evidence

2. Work performance on board

3. Performance on specially set tasks

4. Questioning

* Collecting Evidence

1. The quantity of evidence

2. Time for collecting evidence

* Judging the Evidence

1. Requirements for assessors

2. Assessor's pitfalls

* Verification ot the assessment process

1. Verification methods

* Appeals from cadets

"The competence of seafarers is a critical factor in the safe and efficient

operation of ships. Provided this, the book will guide the reader in the methods and
practices needed for on board training and in-service assessment of a seafarer. It
describes how a fair assessment of a cadet's competence shall be carried out and
provides guidance on how to overcome pitfalls and weakness of the various sources
of evidence of competence. Also, the difference between measuring and assessing
competence is given emphasis to avoid the tendency to conduct a measurement
instead of an assessment. Most colleges are still practicing norm-referenced
evaluation of assessment. Therefore, the difference between this scoring system
and the criterion-referenced system, which must be used on board, is explained. "

I like the the content of the book because it provide guidance in assessment
method and practice on in-service assessment of a seafarer, which intended to be
used in qualifying for certification under the STCW 1978 Convention, as amended. I
think this will be needed by many Filipino seafarer because Philippines has been the
major labor supplying country to the international shipping industry. I like this also
because it follows CHED's policies, standards, and guidelines in Bachelor of Science
in Marine Transportation and Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering degree
cources teaching. It also gives you what you are going to do and standard rules you
need to follow before you can go on board. This book has still have negative side
because a some of the word on this book connot understand by the ordinary people
or the people who is begginner on the field of seafaring. This book also has only few
references and I as rememver, my teacher said that if the has many references it is
better. If many more references he can be more explain the content of his book.