ElitExpert talked to Alexander Shumylo, director of the Naval Training Institute of the ONMU, in order to understand what future awaits Odessa sailors in our unstable time and what serious problems the maritime industry has faced due to the coronavirus pandemic.
— Aleksandr Nikolayevich, what kind of freshmen did you have this year?
— We recruited three groups of shipwrights, two groups of mechanics and two groups of electromechanics, who are in high demand today. These are 180 cadets. For the second course, 150 people were accepted into the group of ship mechanics and ship drivers - guys who came to study with us after college with a retake of grades and exams. And there is replenishment in the magistracy. We mainly recruited Odessa residents, residents of the Odesa region, but students from Vinnytsia, Rivne, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions also came to study with us.
— Are there girls who are studying to become shipwrights?
- Yes of course. I will say that even one girl in the group disciplines the guys.
— Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Odessa National Maritime University switched to distance learning and introduced the latest technologies. What has changed with the introduction of distance learning?
— We went to this for 4 years, developed methods, prepared, the Moodle distance learning system was introduced at the university. Thanks to this, the adaptation to quarantine processes was quite fast. Teachers record lectures on YouTube, students listen to lectures online, classes are held in ZOOM, Google Meet programs. But a lot depends on the cadet himself, how seriously he approaches his training and improvement. The maritime specialty stimulates further training. And the basics they will get here will play a role in their future career. The only problem remains with laboratory work, practical training on simulators. Our training base includes modern simulators for training shipmasters, ship mechanics and electromechanics.
— What is it now with practice at sea?
— Due to the problem of the pandemic, crews of sailors cannot be changed for 11 or more months. Although the contract states 6+1. But due to the fact that the ports and airports are closed due to the pandemic, there is no possibility of change. During the summer period, during the change of crews, when the ports were opened, we simply dismantled the cadets, the changes had to happen quickly. And those who had documents got on the flight.
The entire world fleet is suffering losses due to the pandemic. The passenger fleet was especially affected, which, as analysts predict, will be stopped at least until April 2021.
— Passenger fleet under threat?
— More and more liners are being disposed of. The crisis affected the business of small shipping companies. Now for sale "Dolphin, the former "Belarus", which was renamed and converted into a casino. In the business circles of Odessa, there was a proposal to buy it and gradually revive the tourist business. It is interesting that exclusively our crew worked on the "Delfina"-"Belarus" - mechanics of Vodnyi. Our graduates have always distinguished themselves by their ability, skills, professionalism, and high level of technical training. The Soviet system was based on the selection of the best, 16-17% of young people went to university. And now 76% of school graduates go on to receive higher education. The Soviet university worked on the second Wednesday. In the institute, the second approach is different from that of the school, but in six months the students got to know the system, understood it and studied.
An intelligent student can be made into an intelligent officer. We continue the tradition of training specialists. Moreover, our university has a creative approach, students have always been engaged in design and creation. And graduates who join the navy can already solve problems.
— Did you get experience in the navy, do they come to you to teach?
— When we opened the specialty, the priority was to invite working captains and senior mechanics to work. And we have a strong and energetic team of teachers. Considering the 90-year experience of training ship mechanics at "Vodnoy", this category of our graduates is the largest. The ship mechanic is the chief engineer of the city. That is why a highly complex approach to education is so important. If there are thermal power engineers, electromechanics, diesel engineers, and repairmen at the Polytechnic, then a ship mechanic includes all of this. This is a person who is responsible for the survivability of the vessel, its comfort and safety.
But the judges are representatives of the youngest fraction of our graduates, but at the same time the most dynamic, taking into account the demand, navigators.
— European companies are happy to take Ukrainian sailors...
— Our graduates, senior officers work in European companies, where there is a high degree of trust between the employer and the sailor. They contact us about the employment of our students. This is natural. We present the best graduates. And students, in turn, have competition. If you work on yourself, invest in yourself, then you become a professional, this is a good way to life. Many, being the third mechanics, already at the age of 25 have their own housing and create families. They have good salaries and growth prospects.
— Your university is so popular that foreigners come to you...
— Yes, with the increased number of foreign students, it was necessary to create a separate department for work with foreign students. Now more than 250 people are studying there. Professionals teach at the faculty: captains who speak English well and have work experience. Teaching is conducted in the state language and English. Children from Ukraine can also choose the English training program.
— Maritime public organizations call for order in the training and certification system. What do you think about the problems of certifying sailors?
— We are fulfilling our educational task. And they are interested in creating transparent employment conditions for our graduates. In Ukraine, there is a great demand for marine specialties. Sailors bring currency to the country. They invest in families, in the state. This is one of the points of support for our economy. In all maritime countries, sailors are a priority. We don't have a second way. The purpose of the state as a service is to help its citizens. Sailors, in turn, will support the state.
I hope that the recently created "Ukrmorrechservis" and the Maritime Administration will make their activities transparent and approach the matter responsibly. First of all, a differentiated approach to students and officers is needed. For graduates of maritime educational institutions, it is necessary to reasonably reduce the price of certificates so that they can obtain working documents. Now the students are forced to work to pay a huge amount for them for the certificates. A fair, objective and honest approach to certification is the main task of the Maritime Administration of Ukraine.
— What future awaits the Ukrainian sailor?
— Maritime transport is one of the locomotives of the world economy, it accounts for 85% of all transportation. Therefore, a sailor, working on ships, contributes to the development of the world economy. If the fleet stops, trade will stop. More than 150 thousand Ukrainian sailors (75 thousand officers) work in the world fleet.
The profession of a sailor requires courage and professionalism. The sailor is taking a certain risk. Especially now, during a pandemic, he needs help — moral and psychological. In order to enter a flight, a sailor must adhere to medical regulations, undergo testing, and be examined. The entire crew must be healthy. Because this is watchkeeping, the safety of navigation.
Another aspect is that today's vessels are increasingly being equipped with technological innovations. Scientific and technical progress permeates all industries and the fleet. Technical conditions for environmental safety are being tightened. A sailor will have to master information technologies in order to be in demand. Autonomous vessels are being developed. But, nevertheless, I believe that there will always be work for sailors. Because the human factor remains a priority.
Interviewed by Inna Ishchuk
