Canada: leadership, teamwork, and managerial skills courses

Transport Canada has issued a marine safety publication concerning leadership, teamwork, and managerial skills courses.

The document was published on 1 June 2023.

The publication is based on the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention), including the 2010 Manila Amendments.

It sets standards for leadership and managerial skills at both operational and management levels.

Purpose

To ensure compliance with the STCW standards, making Leadership and Teamwork, as well as Leadership and Managerial Skill training, mandatory minimum requirements.

The courses can be offered within cadet training programs or as standalone courses.

Goals

To provide seafarers with the:

Knowledge and understanding to safely and efficiently manage the ship’s resources and personnel;
Skills to promote good practice in shipboard human resource management; and
Knowledge to control the operations of the ship at the operational and managerial levels.

Implementation

The implementation of the Marine Personnel Regulations requires two levels of Leadership training:

Training at the operational level
Training at the managerial level

Class sizes should be limited, and course manuals provided to students. Attendance policies are enforced, with students required to have a minimum of 90% attendance in lectures and 100% attendance for all skill demonstrations.

The publication includes specific guidelines for Leadership and Teamwork as well as Leadership and Managerial Skills courses.

The document also outlines the approval procedures for training courses provided by recognized institutions, instructor qualifications, and assessment guidelines.

For more information, please see the documents below (available only to subscribers):