Articles

Tackle Harassment Head-On

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 16/11/2022

Historically, there has been a lack of support for seafarers to address their needs to manage stress at sea and virtually no system in place when they face bullying or harassment at sea. That said, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has had some positive impact on the IMO when it comes to considering seafarers' wellbeing. In their latest attempt, the two bodies established a tripartite working group (JTWG) to identify and address seafarers' issues and the human element without clearly specifying key mental health issues or bullying and harassment at sea. They have mandated the group to establish guidelines for Port State Control and flag States as to how to deal with seafarer abandonment cases and fair treatment of seafarers detained on suspicion, and develop recommendations and draft provisions in connection to these.

CLEAN MARINE TRANSPORT SOLUTION FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 26/08/2022

To reduce CO2 emissions, shipping industry has started to implement some of the potential areas for energy efficiency that would lead to a substantial reduction both in energy use and in ship emissions. This efficiency improvements could lead to some 60% overall reduction of fuel requirements and in ship emissions for a given ship. (Wang & Lutsey, 2013). Another way of achieving this is to use Ammonia and extend the use of Flettner rotors and sails to assist in propelling the ships.

Why a course for improving mental health of seafarers and why the course has to also focus on facing bullying and harassment

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati, Dr Martin Ziarati and Dr Lakhvir Singh

Publication Date: 18/08/2022

In several papers and reports, Ziarati (2019-2021) has highlighted that stress at sea and tiredness cause misery and accidents at sea and the extent of bullying is greater than what has been perceived by those working in the shipping industry. To improve well-being of the ship crews and hence also safety at sea, a project, PROmoting MEntal HealTH At Sea (PROMETHEAS), funded by Erasmus+ KA2 Strategic partnership for VET, was initiated by C4FF and its partners .

VR Innovation Project - Life Skills for Employment in COVID-19 Era Through VR Innovation Project

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati, Dr Lakhvir Singh

Publication Date: 30/06/2021

The disruptive effects of the COVID-19 outbreak have impacted almost all sectors of our society, tertiary education is no exception. A study by Aucejo et al (2020) surveyed approximately 1500 students and reported that the outbreak had large negative effects on students' current labour market participation and expectations about post-college labour outcomes. Around 40% of students lost a job, internship, or a job offer, and 61% reported to have a family member that experienced a reduction in income. The pandemic also had a substantial impact on students' expectations about their labour market prospects post-college/university. For example, their perceived probability of finding a job before graduation decreased by almost 20%. They are now competing not only with other graduates but also many experienced workers who have lost their jobs recently.

Towards Zero Ship Emissions II – Project GreenShip

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati, German de Melo, Heikki Koivisto

Publication Date: 28/04/2021

The IMO's own International Shipping Facts and Figures report 2012 stated the number of propelled sea going vessels across the globe of at least 100 Gross Tonnage was 104,304, with cargo carrying vessels being 55,138 and expressed concern about the exponential increase of CO2, NO2, CH4 and so forth in recent year. The EU responded by setting targets. The EU 2050 objectives set some intermediate targets for Eco-Efficient Vessel Emission Reduction for key pollutants: CO2: >80% (-30% by 2020), NOx: 100% (-80% by 2020), SOx: 100% (-80% by 2020) and Noise Reduction: -3dB. A review of current research (Ziarati et al, 2018) clearly shows that the targets set for 2020 by both IMO and EU have not be achieved and the 2050 goals are also unlikely to be achieved. A recent account of pollution in the Air is given in a school assignment (Ziarati, 2021)

School Assignment: Pollution in the Air – A Local and Global Concern

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 22/04/2021

If you are 14+ and student at a secondary school simply read the assignment below and answer the quizzes as best as you can. Submit your answers to Professor Reza Ziarati at reza.ziarati@c4ff.co.uk. This assignment is based on a report on the work of the EU funded Erasmus+ MariEMS’ partners and the materials extracted from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change available from: http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php and, from the book by Ziarati et al (2019) based on presentation to the IAMU (2017, Varna, Bulgaria) and IMLA (2018 Manila, Philippine); access to the book chapters is available through the Development Papers published every month for the last three years at www.marifuture.org.

The Importance of the UK Government Involvement with Business and Academia through a Challenge-led Initiative

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 10/03/2021

Whereas UniBus focused on enabling and enhancing direct academia-industry collaboration, the PoliUniBus scope extends to include also the roles of governments, civil society, and the overarching context of the natural environment. The natural environment is an important inclusion in the model as a typical source of societal grand challenges such as climate change, or other Sustainable Development Goals. There is a view suggesting the formation of “participatory architectures” as a contribution for pragmatically tackling grand challenges as a novel form of robust action, i.e. strategic actions that produce a balance between retaining alternative open paths without over committing to specific outcomes, while simultaneously maximizing value created given present choices. A methodology for guiding policymakers through platform encouraging cross-sector participation seemingly fits the framework consider for the PolyUniBus. Grand challenges are often characterized as “wicked problems” whose resolution requires efforts at the system level, hence a systems thinking approach is necessary to understand the interconnections and trade-offs across the value dimensions. The quintuple helix model proposed in IO 2 report entails developing an understanding at multiple embedded system levels, so that the developed methodology guides decision-making in a way conducive to system.

A Model for Collaboration for Academia, Business and Engineering Institutions Consideration

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 10/02/2021

The author has been a member of several professional institutions for many years and has supported professional institutions in different capacities. He was the Midlands’ representative of the Engineering Council Regional Organisation and served on the Engineering Senate of the Engineering Council for several years. He initiated a number of projects with EEF, CBI and served as the Chair and a member of the accreditation panels for several professional bodies. He has held senior appointments in academia and industry and has been an external examiner for several colleges/universities. He was the Chief Engineering Examiner for BTEC/Edexcel/Pearson and sat on their Engineering Advisory Committee for many years; serving also as the Government Teaching Quality Assessor. He has initiated many national and international funded projects and written over 120 papers and instigated several education, research and innovation centres worldwide including several universities.

Learning from the Project Horizon - Stress at Sea

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati and Dr Martin Ziarati

Publication Date: 24/12/2020

Project Horizon is a major multi-partner European research study that brought together 11 academic institutions and shipping industry organisations with the agreed aim of delivering empirical data to provide a better understanding of the way in which watchkeeping patterns can affect ships’ watchkeepers. The broad spread of the project partners ensured expert objectivity of the project and its results, as well as widening routes for dissemination and exploitation of the findings.

Improving the Mental Health of Seafarers and Eradicating Bullying at Sea - a Course for Seafarers

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 31/10/2020

Seafarers’ work in vessels at sea is one of the hardest, most demanding and under very difficult conditions. Seafarers often work for very long hours, far from their relatives, isolated in a multicultural, highly hierarchical micro-society. Studies have also shown that bullying is an often phenomenon in ships. This situation often generates mental health problems, which put at risks lives, the vessel, passengers, cargo and the environment from pollution and local coastal economies. PROmoting MEnTal HEAlth at Sea (PROMETHEAS) is an Erasmus+ KA2 Strategic partnership for VET, development of innovation for the merchant maritime industry.

The central aim of this project is to develop an online training course and learning resources for seafarers and maritime workers concerning the preservation and improvement of their mental health. It will focus on the various issues that derive from mental health problems and it will provide learners with necessary information and consultation on how to deal with these problems. Main target group of PROMETHEAS project are captains of merchant navy, seafarers and cadets, whilst additional beneficiaries will be trainers on mental health and bullying, VET centers and consultants of the sector as well as nautical academies and shipping companies.

Assessment development for apprenticeship and internship in-company WBL mentors

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 18/09/2020

THE AIR THAT WE BREATHE IN – HOW IT AFFECTS US

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/06/2020

What the UK Government is doing about getting information from their sources regarding Air Pollution

Authors: Ali Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/03/2020

Impact of Air Quality on Human Organs – Report January 2020

Authors: Ali Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 31/01/2020

Air Quality Information and Action Centre

Authors: Ali Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 18/12/2019

Air quality- transport for London reports: “Every child in London is breathing toxic air, mainly caused by road vehicles” (reference: Air quality - tfl.gov.uk). Daily Air quality index from Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) informs the public about the levels of air pollution and provide advice. The index of 1 to 10 indicates one for low and 10 for high pollution level.

Air Quality Conference Report and Observations

Authors: Professor Dr Reza Ziarati, Tony Dalton, Professor John Flower, Anita Dalton

Publication Date: 27/11/2019

There are nine reports being prepared on air quality assessment in several locations worldwide; three of them are general reports on the situations in the UK and the other six reports summarise the arrangements for improving air quality in several cities and makes special references to measures in place in the USA and the cities such as Paris, the latter as a specific example of what happens in the EU.

THE AIR THAT WE BREATHE IN – Professor Reza’s Presentation notes

Authors: Professor Dr Reza Ziarati, C4FF

Publication Date: 19/06/2019

Slide 1 - THE AIR THAT WE BREATHE IN – HOW IT AFFECT US. Slide 2 outlines the reasons for setting up the Coventry and Warwickshire Air Quality People’s Chamber (C&W AQPC), which are to set up an independent body composed of representatives of resident associations, academics, councillors, medical profession and pollution specialists to gather reliable data to help all to make the right decisions on ways to improve air quality; and that there is a need for more accurate monitoring, which AQPC can do to support councils such as Warwick District Council.

School Assignment: Pollution in the Air – A Local and Global Concern

Authors: Professor Dr Reza Ziarati, C4FF

Publication Date: 19/06/2019

Report on the work of the EU funded Erasmus + MariEMS’ partners and the materials searched by Chief Engineer Mohammed Haque (Solent University); extracted from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, [Viewed 28th October 2016]. Available from: http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php and, from the book by Ziarati et al (2019) based on presentation to the IAMU (2017, Varna, Bulgaria) and IMLA (2018 Manila, Philippine); access to the book chapters is available through the Development Papers published every month for the last three years at www.marifuture.org.

Air Quality Challenges in a Port City - Southampton

Authors: Ali Reza Ziarati, C4FF

Publication Date: 30/05/2019

When air pollution in a city comes to mind, it indicates towards a number of problems such as, the levels of pollution people are exposed to, the main sources, locations, and the number of fatalities. The impact of toxic pollutants (industrial, road traffic and shipping) on communities health is as such that the illegal levels is now believed to be the failure of ruling powers for inaction to remove catastrophic health hazards and also the lack of being proactive to take action in the last decades. In some countries the levels are far below the legal limits and that indicates towards more investments together with attention given to compliance with rules, regulations and the requirements of the legislations on environmental health. There are no other magic solutions to the crisis of non- compliance, other than having a discipline of taking control and avoiding unacceptable risk taking. We have seen a shocking level of sanitation and also non existence of public health standards in some developing world countries, which is due to government culture and the lack of financial backing to proper investments in public health infrastructure. By now lessons should have been learned, so that there is no air, land and water pollution on a large scale in the developed world.

Stress Management Programme for Cadets – Causes of Stress and Countering their Effects

Authors: Professor Dr Reza Ziarati, C4FF Professor Martin Ziarati, C4FF

Publication Date: 29/04/2019

Cadets on sea service and young seafarers often do not manage stress as well as the more experience seafarers. It is for this reason that this training programme is devised for them. They face experiences that they have not face before and being away from home often for the first time can itself cause stress. Ships are designed for some 30 years and hence expecting all to provide some degree of comfort with access to online facilities is unrealistic. For this reason the main emphasis in this programme of training is how to identifying the main causes and counter their impact.

Integrating BRM

Authors: Professor Dr Reza Ziarati, C4FF Professor Martin Ziarati, C4FF

Publication Date: 29/03/2019

Existing Bridge Resources Management (BRM) training courses deal just with the seafarers, not the interactions with the pilots. One key deficiency for instance is the current IMO SMCP chapter on pilotage and tug assistance as it does not cover the communication between the ship crew on board and the tug pilots/masters. This communication is still widely carried out in local languages instead of English. This can often be confusing for the ship masters as in these situations they do not have all the essential information but held ultimately responsible if anything goes wrong, and it does, all the time (see for example Ziarati et al, 2011, 2014 and 2017). This has led to increasing collisions and accidents at sea. Some large shipping companies even ask pilots who work at ports they use to join their companies’ internal BRM trainings as there is no international accredited course for an integrated BRM course for both ship crews and pilots working at ports. International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is aware of the problem and there is recognition that a revision of current BRM is necessary and a new training programme is essential to overcome the gap in the BRM pilot training; taking into consideration importance of an integrated approach in developing the intended training programme.

Engineering Institutions as the custodians of Engineering Professions

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 28/02/2019

This paper is written in a generic form and should be of interest to all engineering institutions. It is clear from the recent discussion groups that many engineers especially the young ones do not see the benefits of becoming a member of the Institute. This is not a challenge just faced by Mechanical Engineers or Marine Engineers but also by several other institutions. So it seems the first task for engineering Institutions is to set in clear terms what is the added value to a working engineer in industry, commerce and in academia for being a member of a professional institution. In doing so the Institution should define their main reason for their existence viz., what are they for, is it for their individual members and/or organisations/companies and/or non- or Governmental entities, and if for all then in each case the institution should state the main reasons for supporting each category followed by a clear statement of value added.

AVOIDING COLLISIONS AT SEA – FROM MULTI-SHIP TO SHIP-TO-SHIP ENCOUNTER

Authors: Capt. Djani Mohovic, Guy King, Tomaz Gregoric, Reza Ziarati, Capt. Nicolai Velikov, Capt. Renato Ivce, Capt. Robert Mohovic, Igor Rudan, Silja Teege,Dr Basak Akdemir, Ana Peric Hadzic, Ersin Ahmet Ozturker, German de Melo Rodriguez

Publication Date: 18/12/2018

This report will focus on the obligation of the local councils on the technical report from the Department of Environment (Defra) on local air quality management (TG16) February 2018. This is designed to support local authorities to fulfil their obligation under the 1995 Environment Act. The local authorities must carry out monitoring, assessment and take action to improve the local air quality. In this process investigation of none-compliance with the air quality standards set out in table 1.1. This will lead to an action plan highlighting remedials required.

Air Quality Assessment Report 2018 Commission by MarEdu

Authors: A R Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/10/2018

This report will focus on the obligation of the local councils on the technical report from the Department of Environment (Defra) on local air quality management (TG16) February 2018. This is designed to support local authorities to fulfil their obligation under the 1995 Environment Act. The local authorities must carry out monitoring, assessment and take action to improve the local air quality. In this process investigation of none-compliance with the air quality standards set out in table 1.1. This will lead to an action plan highlighting remedials required.

Towards Zero Collision - Hazard Perception at Sea

Authors: Prof Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 29/08/2018

The IMO defines collisions as casualty caused by ships striking or being struck by another ship, regardless of whether the ships are underway, anchored or moored. This type of casualty event does not include ships striking underwater wrecks. The collision can be with other ship or with multiple ships or ship not underway. The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (COLREGs) are a set of rules to be followed by navigation officers to avoid collisions at sea. It is one of the most important International Conventions that all seagoing Officers must possess full knowledge of, as well as having the skills needed to apply them correctly. However, case law, as stated in the MARS and MAIB reports, indicates that many of the basic principles of the rules are improperly understood and applied such as it being common practice to use VHF Radio in collision avoidance procedures; although such radio communications are not part of the COLREGs (MAIB, 2004). Recent studies undertaken by Ziarati et al (2011, 2017) showed that almost 50% of seafarers disregard/ignore the COLREGs at sea when they are taking action. This case law is further supported by several reports such as (IMO, 2005) that 80% of accidents at sea are caused by human error and Ziarati (2006), Ziarati et al (2017) notes that mistakes are usually made not because of deficient or inadequate regulations, but because the regulations and standards that do exist are often ignored. The IMO MSC (Ziarati, 2006; Ziarati et al 2017) clearly indicates that the causes of many of the accidents at sea are due to deficiencies in maritime education and training of seafarers or disregard for current standards and regulations.

An investigation into the Use of Multiple Choice Questions in Maritime English Tests – RZ Confidence Validation: Paper 2 - with Specific Test Questions Relating to Maritime English

Authors: Dr Martin Ziarati and Maria Veligrantaki

Publication Date: 18/07/2018

This second paper on the same subject uses the validation method described in the previous paper for the use of ‘Multiple Choice Questions’ in specific test questions used in Maritime English competence-based testing. As stated in the previous paper the described methodology can in fact be applied in the validation of multiple Choice questions in any other tests developed for subjects other than Maritime English. Furthermore, the methodology can be used in ‘true or false’ type questions or similar types of testing. The methodology is based on the one developed by Professor Ziarati in 1981 for the testing of the knowledge of ship officer cadets at Highbury College when he noticed that some students often guessed the answers in some cases. The method he developed not only deterred guessing but also offered an opportunity for students taking these type of tests to inform the test developer/setter as to whether the test was easy, average or hard and identify which question posed the greatest challenge. This approach then enabled the test developer/setter to learn from the feedback received and make sure the future tests developed are more balanced and fair.

AVOIDING COLLISIONS AT SEA – FROM MULTI-SHIP TO SHIP-TO-SHIP ENCOUNTER

Authors: Capt. Djani Mohovic, Guy King, Tomaz Gregoric, Reza Ziarati, Capt. Nicolai Velikov, Capt. Renato Ivce, Capt. Robert Mohovic, Igor Rudan, Silja Teege, Capt. Erol Eruasa, Ana Peric Hadzic

Publication Date: 09/05/2018

It has been almost 50 years since the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea known as COLREGs were introduced, and regular amendments have been taking place accordingly ever since. Many studies and accident reports indicate that the accidents were caused by either human error or are associated with human error as a result of inappropriate human responses. Collisions commonly represent many of these accidents and they often happen in multi-ship encounters. COLREGs are written for ship-to-ship encounters but they are still valid also for their application in multi-ship encounters. Many teachers report that many students and also senior officers may have serious problems on applying COLREGs in multi-ship encounters. This paper discusses the “Divida et Impera” approach of “ACTs plus” Erasmus+ project team to facilitate the application of COLREGs in multi-ship encounters. The “Divida et Impera” approach is based on splitting the multi-ship encounters into several ship-to-ship encounters. Then, usually contrary obligations of a single ship identified in several ship-to-ship encounters are interpreted to finally find give-way vessel(s) and the most appropriate collision avoiding actions. This paper discusses “Divida et Impera” approach on one multi-ship encounter scenario while many other multi-ship encounter scenarios enriched with graphics, videos and quiz may be found at ACTs Plus online platform (advanced.ecolregs.com).

Digital Twin of an Internal Combustion Engine

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 20/04/2018

Major marine engine companies such as Wartsila have developed both their new 4-stroke and 2-storke using gas and hence strongly believe that Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) have place in marine power propulsion and auxiliary units. A recent announcement that Mazda sees a bright future for ICE is also indicative of automotive industry has not lost hope on the future of ICE. This paper reports on recent developments to develop a digital twin of these power units with a view to improve their performance and also as a means of monitoring their behaviour when changes are introduced. This paper is composed of two parts. Part 1 is the digital half of an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) which concerns the development of the mathematical model of the ICE and a suite of computer simulation programs which would allow the effects of various design and operational changes to be reliably and accurately predicted with the ultimate aim of producing cleaner engines and/or more efficient power units. The model has been tested against the experimental results of the Paxman engine at Newcastle University and earlier against the Atlas engine at Ricardo, Brighton, UK. Part 2 contains the other digital half of the ICE which describes the rig development viz., the physical model of the Engine. The idea is to match the two parts using an earlier model developed by Ziarati (2009) to produce a finger print of both the mathematical model and the physical model. The matching of both parts would enable the mathematical model be used for various design and operational changes with a view to reduce fuel consumption or engine harmful emissions. The predicted results and the experimental data are in good agreement.

An Investigation into Making Ships Cleaner and More Energy Efficient

Authors: Reza Ziarati, Zakirul Bhuiyan, German de Melo, Heikki Koivisto, Ersin Ahmet Ozturker, Basak Akdemir

Publication Date: 01/02/2018

This lecture focuses on the recent research findings including the EU funded MariEMS project initiated to make ships more energy efficient. The projects have contributed to regulate the engine performance parameters and the navigational equipment for minimum fuel consumption and exhaust emissions by also taking advantage of the wind and sea conditions ensuring compliance with EEIO and EEDI without the risk of intentional reduction of speed. The primary experiments on the propulsioin system and the ship navigatioin syatem have shown substantial fuel saving potential. Recent experiments allowed the study of key operating factors affecting the efficiency of ship propulsion and ship operational factors to be investigated and methodologies concerning engine control and navigaation systems, for safe operations and efficient performance, to be optimised. In the experiments a digital twin of the engine was developed; the overal system included also a set of high fidelity tools and processes for the accurate and efficient analysis of air and sea conditions. These experiments included limited hydrodynamic analysis for ships’ operational performance in normal running condition as well as slow speed behaviour. The experimental work concerned the adaptation of multi-objective optimisation and integrated design environments for holistic operational performance and minimum powering requirement predictions; this is expected to ensure safe application of the design rules guaranteeing, at the same time, the right balance between economic efficiency, environmental performance and safety. The reason for the experiments was a decision support system to regulate engine running conditions and to provide navigation knowledge to for minimum fuel consumption and lowest feasible CO2 emission. The experiments are on going and the overall system comprised a standalone platform composed of all harware and software systems. The intention of MariEMS project is to take advantage of the outcome of a recently conlcuded projects such as IdealShip, this latter project proved that it is possible to make considerable fuel saving when sailing the ship through the path of least resistance (sea and air) in its jouney from one location to antoher. The lecture will also make special references to the efforts to develop the digital twin of the engine and to make the marine diesel engines more efficient and the recent work in reducing their exhaust emissions.

Ideal Port I

Authors: Reza Ziarati, Bulent Akova, Basak Akdemir, Lakhvir Singh

Publication Date: 01/07/2017

This paper is written as basis for preparing a project proposal seeking funds to revolutionise port operations. This paper only includes information about port operations and does not include sensitive information about the proposal overall. Parts Ideal Port II and III of the paper will be publish after this intended proposal is successfully carried out.

Enabling youth to recognise their talents – Preparing for success as well as failure

Authors: Professor F. Tunc Bozbura and Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/06/2017

This article reports on a novel idea helping to enable the youth, their teachers and their parents to recognise their talents and abilities so that they find future occupation in which they can use their qualifications to the fullest and be satisfied and happy in what they do. The idea concerns all layers of education supply chain from primary to secondary leading to all levels in the tertiary system. The idea is to inspire and prepare young people for failures as well as success as both are part and parcel of the same coin through which fear of failure is removed allowing young people to learn by discovery and by doing, taking risk which is managed to some degree by their teachers. What is significant is the opportunity to be a player rather than an observer in life and recognition that the struggle is just as important as victory. Identifying the young people’s strength and interest is the first step in a more satisfying life and more fulfilled professional life.

MariFuture May 2017 Article

Authors: MariFuture.Org

Publication Date: 01/05/2017

The MariFuture will be producing two papers for presentation at IAMU 2017 in Varna, Bulgaria in September 2017. The first paper concerns ship energy efficiency in support of the EU funded MariEMS project (http://www.mariems.com)and the second paper will report on the EU funded ACTS Plus project ( http://advanced.ecolregs.com/)and its recent developments. This article contains a summary of both intended papers.

Industry-Academia collaboration

Authors: Lakhvir Singh (C4FF)

Publication Date: 01/04/2017

In today’s competitive economic environmental, the need of being open and staying connected with the eco-system actors has become crucial for firms’ performance (especially for science-intensive companies) , . Particularly, collaboration with universities has proved itself as an instrument for companies’ generating radical innovations – products/services that are novel to the market . However, several barriers like differences in organisational culture and internal characteristics keep the university-industry collaboration particularly challenging.

Academia-Industry Mismatch

Authors: Professor Tunc Bozbura (BAU) and Professor Reza Ziarati (C4FF)

Publication Date: 01/03/2017

The article presents a novel idea as it would enable the youth, their teachers and their parents to recognise their talents and abilities so that they find future occupation in which they can use their qualifications to the fullest and be satisfied and happy in what they do. The proposal contains all layers of education supply chain from primary to secondary leading to all levels in the tertiary system. The idea is to inspire and prepare young people for failures as well as success as both are part and parcel of the same coin through which fear of failure is removed allowing young people to learn by discovery and by doing, taking risk which is managed to some degree by their teachers.

MariFuture Article on Seafarers’ Transferable Skills to Jobs Ashore

Authors: George Tsouris (PEPEN),Aris Chronopoulos (IDEC S.A.), Tomas Gregoric (SPINAKER D.o.o.), Martin Ziarati (C4FF), Reza Ziarati (TUDEV), Janusz Uriasz (OPR), Heikki Koivisto (SAMK)

Publication Date: 01/02/2017

This article is a document which was part of the SAIL AHEAD project, financed with the EC funds in the domain of "Lifelong Learning Programme" managed by EACEA, number 510581-LLP-1-2010-1-EL-LEONARDO-LMP.

In every profession and every job, one has to deal with some kind of professional hazards and people’s suitability for that particular job is tested on both their knowledge and skills they acquire throughout their previous learning and experience and, their adequacy in responding to these hazards professionally. The same is true with seafaring jobs; but what is significant is that fewer people gain the necessary ‘qualifications’ to display the competence in effectively to respond to hazards of seafaring, such as responding to emergency situations or preventing such emergencies to happen in the first place. The professional seafarers have to go through a complex set of programmes of education and training and develop a range of knowledge and skills on-the- job such as: knowledge of the sea; understanding the application of the conventions and rules formulated by major international and national bodies and authorities such as IMO, ILO, flags, classification societies; knowledge of industry standards – IMarEST, ISF, MNTB, etc.; continuous professional development – updating skills when changes are made to the rules or a when a new competence emerges; Management experience, ship business, social issues, etc.; human element – design, built operations, ergonomic issues; underpinning the knowledge and skills needed for new requirements such as BRM and ERM; or the use of a particular navigation device such as ECTIS, AIS and so forth; skills in safety awareness, risk assessment, leadership; The technical proficiency in engine and navigation systems and operations; and the professionalism itself – integrity, impartiality, empathy, willing learn, team player, managing self and so forth. Working at sea is often dangerous, both operationally and in terms of some of the goods carried on board. Sea can be rough and cruel on occasions. In short, being a seafarer is a challenging profession that requires extraordinary skills and attributes to be developed. Captains, including senior and junior officers carry out various managerial, technical and administrative duties as part of their contractual job requirements which creates opportunities to for learning to take place.

Avoiding Collisions At Sea – Pareto Analysis

Authors: Professor Dr Reza Ziarati (C4FF), Capt. Himadri Lahiry (C4FF), Capt. Djani Mohovic (UoR), Capt. Mate Baric (UoR), Capt. Nicolai Velikov (NV), Sjlia Teege (SeaTeach) and Dr Basak Akdemir (BAU)

Publication Date: 20/01/2017

This paper reports on the findings of an EU Erasmus+ funded project, known as MariEMS, that aimes to develop the role of the ship energy managers and a training programme for these managers. The project is expected to contribute to regulate the navigational equipment and engine performance parameters for minimum fuel consumption and exhaust emissions by taking advantage of the wind and sea conditions ensuring also compliance with EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) without the risk of intentional reduction of speed. The primary experiments (Ziartai and Akdemir, 2015) have shown substantial fuel saving potential. The experiment allowed the study of key operating factors affecting the efficiency of ship operations to be investigated and methodologies concerning navigation and engine control systems, for safe operations and efficient performance, to be optimised. In the experiments a set of high fidelity tools and processes (Autoset) for the accurate and efficient analysis of air and sea conditions were considered. The experiments included limited hydrodynamic analysis for ships’ operational performance in normal running condition as well as slow speed behaviour. The experimental work concerned the adaptation of multi-objective optimisation and integrated design environments for holistic operational performance and minimum powering requirement predictions; this is expected to ensure safe application of the design rules guaranteeing, at the same time, the right balance between economic efficiency, environmental performance and safety. The reason for the experiments was a decision support system to provide navigation knowledge to regulate engine running conditions for minimum fuel consumption and lowest feasible CO2 emission. The experiments are on going and the overall system comprised a standalone platform (AutoSet) composed of all harware and software systems. The intention of MariEMS project is to take advantage of the outcome of a recently conlcuded projects such as IdealShip (Sahayam , 2014), this latter project proved that it is possible to make considerable fuel saving when sailing the ship through the path of least resistance (sea and air) in its jouney from one location to antoher.

MariEMS – Maritime Energy and Management System

Authors: Professor Dr Reza Ziarati, Dr Basak Yucel Akdemir

Publication Date: 14/12/2016

This paper reports on the findings of an EU Erasmus+ funded project, known as MariEMS, that aimes to develop the role of the ship energy managers and a training programme for these managers. The project is expected to contribute to regulate the navigational equipment and engine performance parameters for minimum fuel consumption and exhaust emissions by taking advantage of the wind and sea conditions ensuring also compliance with EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) without the risk of intentional reduction of speed. The primary experiments (Ziartai and Akdemir, 2015) have shown substantial fuel saving potential. The experiment allowed the study of key operating factors affecting the efficiency of ship operations to be investigated and methodologies concerning navigation and engine control systems, for safe operations and efficient performance, to be optimised. In the experiments a set of high fidelity tools and processes (Autoset) for the accurate and efficient analysis of air and sea conditions were considered. The experiments included limited hydrodynamic analysis for ships’ operational performance in normal running condition as well as slow speed behaviour. The experimental work concerned the adaptation of multi-objective optimisation and integrated design environments for holistic operational performance and minimum powering requirement predictions; this is expected to ensure safe application of the design rules guaranteeing, at the same time, the right balance between economic efficiency, environmental performance and safety. The reason for the experiments was a decision support system to provide navigation knowledge to regulate engine running conditions for minimum fuel consumption and lowest feasible CO2 emission. The experiments are on going and the overall system comprised a standalone platform (AutoSet) composed of all harware and software systems. The intention of MariEMS project is to take advantage of the outcome of a recently conlcuded projects such as IdealShip (Sahayam , 2014), this latter project proved that it is possible to make considerable fuel saving when sailing the ship through the path of least resistance (sea and air) in its jouney from one location to antoher.

Avoiding Collisions At Sea – Pareto Analysis

Authors: Professor Dr Reza Ziarati, Dr Martin Ziarati and Captain Himadri Lahiry

Publication Date: 30/11/2016

It has been almost 40 years since the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea known as COLREGs were introduced, and regular amendments have been taking place accordingly ever since. Collision avoidance is believed, in a sense, to prevent groundings, the striking of fixed obstacles, as well as ships colliding with other ships. Over the last half-century despite improvements in navigational aids such as ARPA and attempts to raise the standards of training through the various STCW conventions, collisions still occur. Many studies and accident reports_indicate that the accidents were caused by either human error or are associated with human error as a result of inappropriate human responses. Collisions commonly represent many of these accidents.

Report of the Independent Panel on Technical Education

Authors: DAVID SAINSBURY

Publication Date: 01/04/2016

The Independent Panel on Technical Education was established by the Minister for Skills, on behalf of the Secretaries of State for Education and for Business, Innovation and Skills, in November 2015. It was tasked with advising ministers on actions to improve the quality of technical education in England and, in particular, to simplify the currently over-complex system and ensure the new system provides the skills most needed for the 21st century.

Post-16 Skills Plan

Authors: Department for Education

Publication Date: 03/08/2016

Reforming the skills system is one of the most important challenges we face as a country. Getting it right is crucial to our future prosperity, and to the life chances of millions of people. Real progress has been made following changes in the last Parliament, including those resulting from the Wolf Report1 and growing investment in apprenticeships. The current system has a number of strengths, including a network of dedicated professionals.

The UK on the Verge of Triggering Article 50 – The Consequences!

Authors: C4FF Team

Publication Date: 19/07/2016

This is the fourth article by Centre for Factories of the Future (C4FF) reporting on Brexit. The first article was published on 1 April was about the facts obtained by research and was revised in the second article published in May 2016. The revised article was of significance as it predicted, using C4FF’s powerful neural network forecaster that the UK by a narrow majority will vote to stay in the EU. A copy of the article can be viewed at http://www.marifuture.org/Publications/Articles/Brexit_Report_II.pdf). Using the same forecaster on 6th June 2016, C4FF predicted that the UK voters will vote by a narrow majority, this time, to leave the EU with some 52% wishing to do so and 48% wishing to remain. This third article can be found in http://www.marifuture.org/Publications/Articles/Brexit_Report_III.pdf.

The UK on the Verge of Leaving the European Union – An Alarming Prospect!

Authors: C4FF Team

Publication Date: 09/06/2016

This is the second article by Centre for Factories of the Future (C4FF). In the first article published in April 2016 (http://www.marifuture.org/Publications/Articles/Brexit_Report_II.pdf) C4FF predicted that the UK will remain in the EU, but just in a matter of a few weeks, the tides have squarely turned against the ‘stay’ campaigners with the majority of the eligible UK voters wishing to leave the EU. This is an alarming prospect for the well-being of the UK in the medium to long term.

Sustainable Shipping and MariePRO

Authors: Dr Sadan Kaptanoglu

Publication Date: 01/06/2016

Sustainable Shipping and MariePRO

Presentation Notes from Keynote Speaker Dr Sadan Kaptanoglu, Kaptanoglu Shipping and member of Board of BIMCO

My presentation today is, as expected, on the topic of the maritime business and the challenges facing it. I will, as the title of the conference suggests, say a few words about sustainable shipping and challenges before us. I am aware that many of you know that I am a ship owner and this is my core business; like most shipping businesses in Turkey I too am a member of a family business. I have been active in shipping for some 18 years.

Should the UK remain or Leave the European Union? The Final Report on the View of the Centre for Factories of the Future (C4FF) as to Why the UK Should Stay in the EU

Authors: C4FF Team

Publication Date: 01/05/2016

Centre for Factories of the Future (C4FF) was a major UK Government Centre established in 1982 and became a European Innovation Projects 1984-1996. The Centre has always been an independent research centre working on UK Government and EU funded projects in support of mainly small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). C4FF has two formidable tools, a powerful forecaster and a novel voting platform.

Should Britain remain or Leave the European Union? A Draft Report on the View of the Centre for Factories of the Future (C4FF)

Authors: C4FF Team

Publication Date: 01/04/2016

Centre for Factories of the Future (C4FF) has always been an independent research centre working on UK Government and EU funded projects in support of mainly small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). C4FF has two formidable tools, a powerful forecaster and a novel voting platform.

Quality Systems and International Safety Management Code

Authors: Dr Martin Ziarati, Dr Sadan Kaptanoglu and Dr Basak Akdemir

Publication Date: 01/03/2016

The maritime industry is directly influenced by the policies of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and its international conventions. IMO has established three major pillars, viz., SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea), MARPOL (Maritime Pollution) and STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping. In addition there are several international organisations such as ILO which regulate the labour rules and regulations. Maritime sector is very sensitive on two topics safety at sea and environment. These two concepts can be found in almost every shipping company’s mission statement. Despite of the existed sensitivity accidents in Maritime Sector especially on vessels still continue.

The Opportunity to Develop Cleaner Diesel Engines

Authors: Dr Martin Ziarati and Dr Basak Akdemir

Publication Date: 22/01/2016

The current scandal engulfing Volkswagen (VW) regarding the falsifying of data in order for diesel cars to pass American and European emissions tests brings to light decades of deception by the company and the collusion of the research and industry bodies who failed to question and hold VW and their claims to account. It is also well-known that VW is not the only car manufacturer which has to clean up their act. It is for this reason that this paper was commissioned by Centre for Factories of the Future in the UK and Bahcesehir University in Turkey. This paper complements their recent research in making ships burn less fuel and hence produce fewer pollutants (Ziarati and Akdemir, 2015).

G20 Summit and Economic Developments

Authors: Dr Basak Akdemir

Publication Date: 04/01/2016

G20 brings the largest 19 economic powers and the EU together, representing 85% of the world’s economy, 75% of trades and two-thirds of the world’s population. The G20 started in 1999 as a meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis. In 2008, the first G20 Leaders' Summit was held, and the group played a key role in responding to the global financial crisis. G20 leaders have met nine times since 2008, continuing to focus on achieving strong, sustainable and balanced growth, promoting job creation and financial regulations that reduce risks and prevent future financial crises and modernizing international financial architecture.

LEANSHIP - Design and Development of a High Fidelity Integrated Ship Management System for Matching Engine Operations to Sea and Air Conditions

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati and Dr Basak Yucel Akdemir

Publication Date: 13/11/2015

This paper reports on a project that aimed to regulate the navigational equipment and engine performance parameters for minimum fuel consumption and exhaust emissions by taking advantage of wind and sea conditions while ensuring compliance with EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) without the risk of intentional reductions of speed. The primary experiments have shown substantial fuel saving potential. To achieve this aim, key operating factors affecting the efficiency of ship operations were investigated and methodologies to optimise navigation and engine control systems for safe operations and efficient performance were developed. Also a set of high fidelity tools and processes for the accurate and efficient analysis of air and sea conditions were considered. The project included hydrodynamic analysis for ships’ operational performance in normal running conditions as well as slow speed behaviour. The project work concerned the adaptation of multi-objective optimisation and integrated design environments for holistic operational performance and minimum powering requirement predictions; this is expected to ensure safe application of the design rules whilst guaranteeing the right balance between economic efficiency, environmental performance and safety. The main deliverable of this project was a decision support system to provide navigation knowledge to regulate engine running conditions for minimum fuel consumption and lowest feasible CO2 emission. The project is ongoing and the overall system is expected to comprise a standalone platform composed of all hardware and software systems.

INtroducing Science in PrImary schools through Learning by DiscovEry (INSPIRE)

Authors: INSPIRE Team

Publication Date: 20/10/2015

It is an acknowledged fact that Europe has an aging population and while Eurostat analysis shows the numbers of students graduating university with STEM qualification has remained stable across the EU in recent years (22.3% of all graduates in 2006 and 22.8% of graduates in 2012) this has not been sufficient to overcome expected shortfalls in industry in the medium to long term. The Eurostat analysis shows that in Germany for example in 2012 (arguably the leading country in terms of STEM graduates in the EU) despite nearly 30% of all graduates having a STEM qualification there was a shortage of 200,000 STEM graduates (mainly engineers) costing the economy 20 billion Euros a year. It is interesting to note that this trend is the same for the US with the added worry that the number of students who enter engineering programmes is actually projected to drop; a projection that many believe will have a negative impact on the U.S. workforce in the future (Christian D. Schunn, 2009).

Talking our way to safer shipping

Authors: Dr Martin Ziarati and Alison Noble

Publication Date: 28/09/2015

According to the International Maritime Organisation, there are 85,000 working vessels (of 100gt and above) on the world’s seas. The shipping industry is a key component of the global economy, carrying nearly 90% of world trade — and, as such, demands high standards of safety and security.

A drop in the ocean

Authors: Dr Martin Ziarati

Publication Date: 10/07/2015

Considering that 90% of global trade is transported by sea and that 80% of accidents in the industry are attributed to human error it should be acknowledged that safe and efficient ship operations depend on the competencies of seafarers. One of these is the competency in maritime English.

Development of an Innovative Autonomous and Intelligent Tool for ‘Least-Fuel-Voyage’ Management within the Shipping Industry (IShip)

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 05/06/2015

A review of recent publications (Lloyd’s Register, Life Matters, June 2012) and the IMO’s own reports (Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC), 64 session, Agenda item 4, 29th June 2012) and similar reports by learnt societies and classification societies and maritime organisations, for instance, German Lloyd Academy (GL, EEDI in practice, 2012) which give a clear view of the roadmap for reducing the marine engine emissions in particular in the near future. The whole of Central and North America coastal areas are now almost an ECA (Emission Control Area) and it is expected that coasts of Mexico, Alaska and the Great lakes, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Australia, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Tokyo bay are currently considering becoming ECAs. What is significant is that these constitute 90% of shipping routes so the implications are serious. The Lloyd’s report (Life Matters, June 2012) contains a set of guidance notes to provide advice to owners, operators and shipyards who are perhaps looking to adopt the EEDI early on a voluntary basis, or prepare themselves for its future mandatory implementation.

2015 MariFuture Year of Energy Efficiency

Authors: Dr Martin Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/05/2015

2014 was devoted to safety as sea and Marifuture supported the development of several projects. Project ACTs (www.ecolregs.com) was initiated by C4FF in response to the EU policy for zero collisions and as part of the Marifuture drive to reduce collisions and grounding at sea with a view to examine the COLEREGS, IMO’s ‘rule of the road’, and to try to improve the application of these important rules. Two other projects, one to reduce stress on board ships (project SOS) and one to improve communication on board vessels (Project SeaTALK) were also initiated. All three projects were funded by the EU and are progressing well. 2015 has been designated the Marifuture year of energy efficiency.

LEFlexi – A Way Forward for the Shipping Industry

Authors: Dr. Şadan Kaptanoğlu, Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/03/2015

This is a short article discussing the latest international efforts in making shipping more competitive. The challenges facing the industry are formidable and for some company particularly the smaller ones the future is bleaker than it has been in the last few years. The shipping companies are now expected to be leaner, more fuel efficient and have skills to seek finance as well as being au fait with latest trends in legislation. Logic dictates that a holistic approach is the safest bet. The approach requires applying well tested lean techniques in making the shipping operational more effective and efficient and at the same time find means of reducing fuel consumption and the resultant harmful emissions such as GHS and CO2 etc. and specifically particularly carcinogenic particulates.

The Importance of Accreditation and, Research and Development – Developing Staff and Supporting Industry and Commerce

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 20/02/2015

C4FF seek to offer maximum opportunities to its students. If our programmes at C4FF are accredited by professional chartered institutions our students will enjoy a greater degree of international recognition and will be in a more opportune position to seek employment abroad.

New Research Based e-Learning Model Course to Avoid Collisions at Sea

Authors: Captain Himadri Lahiry

Publication Date: 01/11/2014

Since ancient times, in the wake of accidents and disasters at sea, huge changes in the individual and collective knowledge and behaviour of those engaged in navigation at sea occurred. In modern times, to improve safety at sea and to avoid collisions, several attempts have been made to improve the collision regulation.

Reduction of collisions risks at sea. A study of recent casualties through collisions and endeavour to predict the changes required in the use and application of existing IMO collision regulations for the development of an e-learning model course.

Authors: Capt. Himadri Lahiry, Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/07/2014

The article reports from extensive studies and analysis of the use and application of IMO (International Maritime Organisation) Collision Regulations (COLREGs) to reveal the practices and problems of collision avoidance as seen from the perspective of seafarers, maritime education and training providers, VTS (vessel traffic services) operators, employees of the port authorities, pilots as well as with masters of the fishing boats and yachts. The focus has been to identify and establish a common understanding of an individual rule through some kind of guidelines that are needed to standardize the education, training and assessment of COLREGs through the proposed COLREGs Model Course. It also expresses and justifies the view that the COLREGs model course should be an integral part of the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping) for Seafarers.

MariFuture 2020 - Part II

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/06/2014

This article provides an overview on recent research by TUDEV, C4FF and its European partners to Identify Project proposals in support of MariFuture Roadmap 2020.

Avoiding collisions at sea

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/04/2014

This paper, as part of the EU funded project ACTS (Avoiding Collisions aT Sea), present a reivew of the recent research studies and relevant accident reports that identify the causes of accidents at sea with a veiw to identify the most recurring causes of these type of accidents. It is intended to apply the Pareto analysis of the most likely causes of accidents at sea. Several reports and papers clearly identify Collisions as the most recuring type of accidents at sea. Recent research has identified problems with Collision Regulations and their interpretation to be serious causes of many collisions. There are many near collisions, each of which is an accident waiting to happen.

European Boat Design Innovation Group for Wind Farm Support Vessel (EBDIG –WFSV)

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/03/2014

The first EU funded EBDIG project was very successful. It established an on-line platform and a course for yacht designers of the future. More information is available in www.ebdig.eu. This project is the second EBDIG project aim at training the designer of future wind farm vessels.

Stress on ships (SOS) A new EU Leonardo Transfer of Innovation Project II

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/03/2014

The causes of stress and its better management have a bearing on the agenda of major national, European and international bodies such as the IMO, BIMCO, ISF and many others who are working to find ways to improve working conditions on board ships. Stress has direct impact on safe navigation and the Stresin nedenleri overall well-being of crews.

MariFuture 2020

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/02/2014

MariFuture vision encompasses the current and the intended initiatives that make the seas safer, more secure and cleaner. The vision has been transformed into several proposals which are in support of the national, European and international efforts by individual governments, European agencies such as EMSA and DG MOVE and DG MARE as well as international bodies such as the International Maritime Organisation.

Members invited to support study of colregs problems

Publication Date: 01/02/2014

Members invited to support study of colregs problems.

Stress on ships (SOS) A new EU Leonardo Transfer of Innovation Project

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/01/2014

The causes of stress and its better management have a bearing on the agenda of major national, European and international bodies such as the IMO, BIMCO, ISF and many others who are working to find ways to improve working conditions on board ships. Stress has s direct impact on safe navigation and the overall well-being of crews.

Post Funding Plan - Twinning Project between Italy and Turkey Improved maritime education and training in Turkey-II

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/12/2013

THE TURKISH MARITIME CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE (TMCE) The main idea behind TMCE was to build on the success of MarEdu in Turkey. MarEdu has played a major role in developing internationally recognised and respected maritime education and training (MET), and in identifying the major gaps in MET which had led to many accidents and incidents at sea.

Post Funding Plan - Twinning Project between Italy and Turkey Improved maritime education and training in Turkey-I

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/11/2013

VISIT BY ITALIAN DELEGATION - The purpose of the visit was to see how the Twinning Project (TP) could continue and built on the recent success of the project. The post funding plan of the TP has now been integrated with the Turkish maritime community’s development plan, and has led to several joint projects and developments.

Avoiding Collisions At Sea – New Eu Funded Project

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/10/2013

A study of the reports reveals that 85% of all accidents are either directly initiated by human error or are associated with human error by means of inappropriate human response (Ziarati, 2006).

IdealShip – Developing the Next Generation of Ship Command Structures

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/09/2013

The project is expected to contribute to improving the safety of vessels in compromised situations, while respecting regulatory environmental constraints.

Bid to break down EU certification barriers

Authors: Telegraph

Publication Date: 01/08/2013

The results of major European Union funded project to investigate ways of improving the 'employability' of European seafarers in the small commercial vessels sectors are due to be released next month.

Ship broking and chartering course

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/08/2013

Developed by Continuous Training Center of Piri Reis University (PÜSEM) and Ship Brokers Association.

A lifetime opportunity for graduates of maritime vocational schools - Learning from TUDEV’s experience - II

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/07/2013

This is a second article in a series which introduces a set of programmes developed by the newly established Piri Reis University’s Meslek Yuksek Okulu (MYO).

A lifetime opportunity for graduates of maritime vocational schools - Learning from TUDEV’s experience

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/06/2013

This article introduces a set of programmes developed by the newly established Piri Reis University’s Meslek Yuksek Okulu (MYO).

Creating Employment and Encouraging Mobility - Great Employment Opportunity across Europe for commercial skippers in the SCV Sector!

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/05/2013

The EU-funded TRECVET (Transnational Recognition of European Certification in Vocational Education and Training) project has progress considerably in one year and is developing a set of tools, which can provide acceptance and mutual recognition of comparable qualifications from various EU member states, within the SCV sector.

UniMET Final Partner Meeting, National Seminar and Conference

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/04/2013

UniMET 5th and final partner meeting (Final) was held on 24th January 2013 in Naples, Italy. All UniMET partners attended the meeting and discussed the project progress since the last meeting (the 4th partner meeting) and reviewed the arrangements for and plans of the post funding period.

Developing an Online English Course Language for Seafarers

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/03/2013

The course will be in line with IMO and the European Qualification Framework. The project is expected to support the Maritime English standards developed as a part of EU funded MarTEL and MarTEL plus.

TUDEV Cadets in Scotland on Leonardo Mobility Programme

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/02/2013

Funded by the EU, TRAIN 4CS prepares the students of TUDEV studying the shipping programme for the MCA Certificate.

Sail Ahead, Go Ahead - Sail Ahead National Conference in Turkey

Authors: Prof. Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/01/2013

The main aim of the conference was to introduce the project to the Turkish maritime sector; NGOs, education institutions and government institutions. The conference was part of the planned dissemination and exploitation activities of SAIL AHEAD at a national level.

Are we all on the same page

Authors: Sarah Robinson

Publication Date: 01/02/2013

Despite the best intentions of the industry, we all know there’s some way to go before English is fully established as the language of the sea. SARAH ROBINSON finds out what the academic community is doing to move things along.

Cracking the Comms comundrum

Authors: Dr. Martin Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/12/2012

It is time the industry paid more attention to crews’ poor English skills, says Martin Ziarati of the Centre for Factories of the Future.

Swallow the Anchor

Authors: Ship management International

Publication Date: 01/11/2012

The stresses and strains of a life at sea are well documented, with long shifts, often worked in variable conditions and inhospitable weather a constant threat. Some seafarers must face alternating four-hour shifts, extreme changes in temperature, a poor diet, stressful tasks and little contact with loved ones, so perhaps it is easy to see why the average seafarer works at sea for less than 10 years.

Combining vocational and academic requirements in the maritime education and training 3

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/12/2012

Time, cost and requirements are the major issues and challenges for achieving an effective MET practice. MET institutions are trying to overcome.

Combining vocational and academic requirements in the maritime education and training 2

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/11/2012

This study presented in the paper is a summary of the existing issues and problems faced by MET institutions worldwide. The study was carried out to initiate discussions with a view to find better solutions to problems encountered of offering highly regulated and complex set of programmes.

Combining vocational and Academic Requirements in the Maritime Education and Training 1

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/10/2012

Unfortunately we still have many problems in vocational education and training to meet the manpower requirements of the industry.

Establishment of Turkish Maritime Centre of Excellence

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/09/2012

This article concerns two proposals once by TUDEV regarding the establishment of the Turkish Maritime Centre of Excellence (TMCE) and the other by YOK concerning the setting up of a Centre of Excellence for Maritime Simulator Instructor Training (CEMSIT).

Study Seeking to open up EU Jobs

Authors: Telegraph

Publication Date: 01/10/2012

Work has begun on a new project that seeks to make it easier for masters and officers of small commercial vessels to work under the flags of other EU member states.

TRECVET-Transnational Recognition of European Certification in Vocational Education and Training

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/08/2012

Established as a project of the Lifelong Learning programme of the EU, TRECVET aims at contributing to finding solutions for mobility and recognition of qualifications within vocational education and training and thereby supports the objectives of the European Union’s Leonardo da Vinci programme.

Attracting young people to seafaring profession

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/05/2012

The European Community Shipowners’ Association in its lasts annual report (2009) addresses the need to attact young persons from European Union countries in the maritime profession and to improve the image and knowledge about shipping.

Cross training

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/06/2012

An EU-funded project which aims to bring together maritime education and training (MET) standards with a view to make it easier for trainers, employers and seafarers to have access to a number of MET practices and a generic model comprising all MET programmes and IMO and good practice courses incorporating all recent IMO STCW changes.

Harmonising maritime education and training

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/07/2012

IMO model courses was considered a good approach and the inclusion of several other learning opportunities such as UniMET integrated navigation course was an innovative in itself.

IMPACT Project Commences

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/03/2012

The IMPACT project intends to promote the results of a number of completed maritime vocational education and training projects which directly address particular problems or deficiencies in MVET throughout Europe, and represent innovative use of information and communication technologies in lifelong learning.

Can you help officer career path project?

Publication Date: 01/06/2012

Nautilus members are being invited to support a news European study that is looking at ways to attract more young people at sea by showing the wide range of careers that seafarer training can lead to.

Euro-Harmony On Seafarer Training?

Publication Date: 01/12/2011

Nautilus International members are being invited to take part in a conference looking at the unification of European maritime training and education. Taking place in London on Friday 16 December, the conference is being held as part of the EU-funded project UniMET, which has been examining ways of improving seafarer employment and mobility opportunities through harmonised maritime training and education.

A report on UniMET Conference in London

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/02/2012

A major project is under way to look into ways of improving the employability of European seafarers by harmonising maritime education and training within the EU.

MariFuture new EU funded projects

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/01/2012

GETAFIX project concerns the Small Commercial Vessel (SCV) maritime sector of the EU, where qualifications of one member state are not recognised by the authorities of other member states.

MariFuture activities at TUDEV

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/12/2011

This article reports on the progress made with RU funded projects at TUDEV giving references to some of TUDEV papers presented and activities carried out in recent events in the world.

Training and crewing: Cross training

Authors: Mike Gerber

Publication Date: 01/03/2012

An EU-funded project aims to bring together maritime training standards to make life easier for trainers, employers and seafarers. Mike Gerber examines how it might help raise safety standards.

SURPASS the test

Authors: Professor Reza Ziarati, Dr Martin Ziarati and Ugurcan Acar

Publication Date: 01/03/2012

Academics are aiming to improve the training of seafarers in onboard automated systems. Professor Reza Ziarati, Dr Martin Ziarati and Ugurcan Acar, of the maritime division at the Centre for Factories of the Future, explain all.

In tune on training?

Authors: Mike Gerber

Publication Date: 01/02/2012

A major project is under way to look into ways of improving the employability of European seafarers by harmonising maritime education and training within the EU. Mike Gerber reports on the progress made in first year.

MariFuture changes the maritime education II

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/11/2011

MarTEL (Maritime test of English language) is an European Leonardo Da Vinci project which aims to establish standards for Maritime English. The project ended in 2009; evolving into a multi-layered structure with a thorough approach to the project objectives and creating standards in testing Maritime English of three groups of seafarers, namely; the would-be cadets of maritime academies, graduates of these academies and the officers of junior rank and the seafarers of senior level who are captains and chief engineers.

MariFuture changes the maritime education

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/10/2011

The modern ships particularly oil and container carrying vessels are becoming increasingly automated. The automation has brought two problems with it, one concerning the inadequacy of existing seafarers' education and training that if any aspects of automation fail the crew often are not trained to use alternative systems and hence respond it effectively.

Turkey is taking the Lead

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/09/2011

Partnership of training institutions and the industry partners towards establishing "maritime certificates of excellence" may well go further than the STCW requirements.

Turkey is taking the Lead

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/08/2011

Shipping has for a long time been recognised as one of the strong catalyst of socio - economic development.

Establishment of Center of Excellence

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/07/2011

In a view to establishing the Turkish Shipping Centre of Excellence, the best shipping policies and practices in the world's leading countries were studied carefully.

Learning from Accidents

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/06/2011

It is believed that the majority of human errors could have been prevented by adopting a more human oriented approach.

A New Project from TUDEV

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/05/2011

A careful study of the accident reports reveals that 85% of all accidents are either directly initiated by human error or are associated with human by means of inappropriate human response.

Innovation in GMDSS Training

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/04/2011

EGMDSS project which TUDEV is a partner wins the Finland's Gold Medal 2010 in international series. It also wins the European Award as one of the nine best e-leaning platforms out of 443 EC Initiatives.

Looking into the Future - New Initiatives by the European Commission

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/03/2011

Professor Ziarati is strongly of the view that Turkey should take full advantage of the opportunities outline in the EU new initiatives as outlined by the commissioner, Maria Damanaki.

MarTEL Plus Project Summary

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/02/2011

The MarTEL project is particular timely for Turkey where there is a shortage of officers but huge surplus of ratings many with no or little knowledge of Maritime English.

Just Click to certificate

Publication Date: 01/12/2010

A news online initiative has been launched to help people in the maritime industry gain GMDSS qualifications whilst at sea.

The easiest way of GMDSS Communication

Publication Date: 01/08/2008

Most of the readers of this magazine might well remember the Turkish Maritime Education Foundation/TUDEV’s EU Leonardo Da Vinci E-GMDSS Project from previous issues. In this article, I would like to update you on recent developments of the project.

A cooperation project in Education: UniMET

Authors: Capt. Teränen Jarmo

Publication Date: 01/01/2011

he international Maritime Organisation (IMO) developed the first standard for Vocational Education and Training (VET) programmes for merchant navy officers (STCW) in 1978.

MarTEL Plus Proje Özeti

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/12/2010

MarTEL Plus Projesi, son zamanlarda yapılan Leonardo da Vinci MarTEL projesini tamamlamakta ve genişletmektedir. MarTEL Projesi son derece iyi kabul görmüş ve sonuçlarının sunulması amacı ile 2010 IMO STW41 oturumundan davet almıştır.

European GMDSS e-learning Platform

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/10/2010

EU has invited the partners to Brussels to attend the award winning ceremony in November 2010 giving the partners the opportunity to tell their success story to senior EU officials and their guests. Knowledge is simply not being refreshed and maintained at sea to an acceptable standard especially in the case of emergency situations when such events are viewed as a rarity, which is when the knowledge of emergency communication devices may easily be forgotten and put the safety of crew, passengers, vessel and cargo at risk.

Project CAPTAINS

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/10/2010

The proposal aims to transfer innovation and to conjugate existing knowledge concerning linguistic, paralinguistic, cultural and discourse formation issues acting as barriers in ship-to-ship, ship-toshore- to-ship and crew communication in the multi-cultural context of a ship particularly since over 75% of ships are now multilingual. 80% of maritime accidents are imputable to human factors, of which failure of communication represents one third (Ziarati 2006, Trenkner 2007).

A Cooperation Project in Education - UniMET

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/08/2010

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) developed the first standard for Vocational Education and Training (VET) programmes for merchant navy officers (STCW) in 1978. A series of model courses for these programmes was introduced in 1991and were amended to include specific requirements in 1995. The standard was reviewed in 2003 and several significant changes were introduced recently and these changes were announced in June this year in Manila.

Sail Ahead Project

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/08/2010

Another Innovation project: Sail Ahead. The project summary as described in the project proposal argues that seafarers in general have a job with extraordinary complexities.

TUDEV's New EU funded Project

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/07/2010

Ten cadets from TUDEV are in Scotland to study for a Post HND (Higher National Diploma) course to prepare for the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) Certificate of Competency (CoC) oral examination.

Opportunity to Revise MET Programmes

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/06/2010

Recently, IMO's priority has been to revise the most important international treaty dealing with crew standards (the International Convention of Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping for Seafarers -STCW).

A New Innovation Project

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/05/2010

TUDEV and partners application to the European Union to form a European Boat Design Innovation Group has been successful.

Commences the MAIDER

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/04/2010

In the recent meetings of IMO MSC a great deal of emphasis was placed on human elements, particularly how human errors which have led to great loss of life and property.

Standards for Maritime English for Safer Seas and Ports

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/10/2009

It is acknowledge by all concerned that effective knowledge of English at sea and in ports is a must for all seafarers responsible for safety and security of the ship, its crew and its passengers.

The Leonardo SOS Project was introduced

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/10/2007

A conference on the EU Leonardo Safety on Sea (SOS) Project aiming devlop the quality of the maritime training was held at IMEK DTO/Turkish chamber of shipping's head quarter in Salipazari, and TUDEM/Marine Education Center of TUDEV/Turkish Maritime Education Foundation in Tuzla, Istanbul, on 19-19 Seotember, through cooperation with Edexcel International, Glasgow College of Nautical Sciences, South Tyneside College and Tromso University.

Innovation in GMDSS Training Courses

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/03/2011

The sea is an extensive and unregulated environment, and the safety of lives and the reduction of casualties are extremely important matters. For a long time, the focus has been to try to change the attitude and behaviour of those using the sea by improving their knowledge and training through education and awareness of safety initiatives.

Excellence for Maritime Education

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/01/2011

TUDEV supported the establishment of Maritime Education (MarEdu) Partnership (www.maredu.co.uk) in 2005 to tackle the maritime skill deficiencies based on the IMO reports and recent research in skill deficiencies in Europe. IMO has passed the responsibility for delivery and assessment of Merchant Navy education and training to member countries and does not take part, in any shape or form, in the inspection, evaluation or delivery of these programmes (Ziarati, 2003). IMO cannot work alone. In fact EU has helped by establishing EMSA (European Maritime Safety Agency) which has commenced monitoring the IMO standards for training and certification of merchant navy personnel (STCW).

MarTEL - Developing Standards for Maritime English for Safer Seas and Ports

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/09/2010

It is acknowledged by all concerned that effective knowledge of English at sea and in ports is a must for all seafarers responsible for safety and security of the ship, its crew and its passengers. Yet as evidenced by recent reports, articles and papers particularly accidents reports by major and reputable investigation authorities that the standard of English of some seafarers is so bad that they have difficulty communicating not only between themselves but also with agencies outside the ship (Alert, 2007).

Investigations into the human factor regarding disasters at sea, which focused on communication behaviour according to Trenker (2007) revealed that one third of accidents happen primarily due to insufficient command of maritime English. He reported that in VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) controlled areas for instance, poor communicating of relevant factors contribute up to 40% of collisions involving the human element, most of them caused by failures in radio communication even in routine conversations, but some also through face-to-face communication deficiencies.

Maritime Test of English Language – C4FF Article

Authors: Doctor M. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/09/2010

MarTEL offers a new and innovative approach to the Maritime English Language of mariners and port workers across the European Union. Through an interactive online learning platform, MarTEL will create and test a set of accepted standards of Maritime English Language for merchant seafarers whose first language is not English. The MarTEL Project is currently being developed by a consortium of highly experienced European partners; each comes from a different but related background that complements the project perfectly. The consortium includes maritime universities and training institutions as well as private companies which have hold specific experience or expertise in the project’s area.

The Project is supported by the European Union, which has funded the development and research of MarTEL since 2007. The project has received recognition from the EU because it meets several criteria for future development within the union by both encouraging and promoting lifelong learning among adult European learners and promotes the development of linguistic diversity and closer cohesion in Europe. MarTEL’s main aim us to improve safety at sea, which justifies the Projects inclusion within the EU's Leonardo da Vinci Programme.

Bridging the language gap

Authors: Jem Newton

Publication Date: 01/01/2010

Since 2007, an EU- funded transnational company have been working on a programme to establish proper standards of Maritime English. Called MarTEL, it is based on the premise that effective knowledge of English at sea and in ports is essential for all seafarers who have responsibility for the safety and security of their ship. Approximately one third of accidents at sea are caused by an insufficient command of Maritime English. Safety at Sea International journalist Jem Newton speaks to the Project Co-ordinators about the MarTEL programme and its aims.

The MarTEL Project - Developing Standards for Communication at Sea

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati and Captain H. Lahiry

Publication Date: 01/09/2010

A comprehensive account of the MarTEL project and its application is provided in this article. The need and importance of the establishment of International standards of Maritime English Language is provided. The article provides a case for MarTEL to become these International standards. The article also provides an example of a major maritime accident at sea that was caused due to communication errors by the crew on board the ship.

The SURPASS Project

Authors: Professor R. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/01/2010

TUDEV's new research and development project to make automated vessels safer has been approved by the Turkish National Agency and the EU. The project was jointly developed by Professor Ziarati and Mrs Sadan Kapanoglu. The project is named Short Course Programmers for Automated Systems in Shipping (SURPASS).

On the button

Authors: Doctor M. Ziarati

Publication Date: 01/08/2008

It is essential to ensure the safety of life and vessels at sea. Well, that is the primary function of maritime radio — but what free, useful and user-friendly learning materials are available assist the use of such equipment in emergency situations?

There were concerns over the limited access to such learning materials, and as a result some 11 major European organisations in the maritime industry came together to address this problem through the EGMDSS project.