Situation
DFDS Basic Safety Training was the first blended learning concept
to be approved by Danish Maritime Authority (DMA). The training
concept supported DFDS cruise line division in cutting down
'time-to-competency' by 75% and at the same time increased the
measured training effect.
DFDS cruise line
division recruits more than 500 new employees each year. The new
employees are mainly working in the service and catering area. All
employees are to undergo a basic safety training, which used to be
a 5 days attendance course.
This course was to
be finalized within the first 30 days from mustering. As a
consequence the employees had very different levels of knowledge
about the safety and work at sea before entering the course and
thus different prerequisites for getting the most effect from the
course.
At the same time the
5-day attendance course limited the flexibility of the manning of
ships and much time was spent to establish a common theoretical
understanding of the safety principles among the staff working
together.
DFDS wanted to
optimize the training by improving the preparation and standard of
staff training by means of introducing more on board training.
Solution
Green-Jakobsen A/S analyzed the legislative requirements
and at the same time investigated the employees' working behavior,
preferred learning methods as well as the general training
processes on board and on the basis of that information a blended
learning concept was defined.
The blended learning
concept consists of an interactive CD-ROM an internet-based
assessment and then a practical 1.5-day course.
The CD comprised
both video and interactive exercises to explain the safety theory.
As soon as the recruitment procedure had been concluded the CD was
handed out by HR together with personal password access to the
internet test site. When the users had passed the test they were
invited to the practical course taking place at one of three
schools.
Result
This training concept succeeded in
preparing the employees for the work and safety on board. Already
when they arrived at the practical session the employees had a
higher common level of knowledge and understanding and thus more
effect from the exercises was clearly identified. Finally the
CD-ROM allowed the employees to repeat the course or elements of it
if they were interested or when required by Shipboard management.
DFDS was able to cut the "time-to-competency" - defined as the time
passed from recruitment until they had a group of safety compliant
personnel, and this was done with much higher flexibility and a
fixed attendance course of a much shorter period. Finally, the
training effect measured by the general score in the course test
also turned out to be significantly higher.
Client
DFDS Seaways