August 10, 2005

MARITIME SCHOOL STUDENTS GET ONBOARD WITH GIANT CRUISE VESSEL OPERATOR

Students from the New Zealand Maritime School in Auckland could one day be captaining some of the world’s largest passenger ships, following a commitment from giant cruise vessel operator Princess Cruises to provide scholarships to top students of the School on an ongoing basis. Under this agreement, five of the navigating cadets who commenced their studies in Auckland in February have been selected by Princess Cruises and have just joined their first vessels. The scholarship scheme will be extended to include engineering officer cadets in 2006.

Director of the Maritime School, Tim Wilson, says the decision by Princess Cruises to provide scholarships and sea training recognises the quality of New Zealand-trained officers. The decision was made only after a thorough examination of the quality of the school’s graduates as well a detailed review of the school’s standards and policies.

The announcement coincides with predictions of an acute international shortage of maritime expertise and calls for the industry and government to address the problems caused by a lack of new entrant training.

Princess Cruises will provide the sea-time component of the three year Diploma in Nautical Science and Second Mate Foreign Going qualifications, taught at the Maritime School since 1999. The qualification requires students to spend a third of the programme at sea.

Princess Cruises is part of the Carnival group along with the well-known Cunard and P & O Lines. The group operates a fleet of 77 vessels around the world including the world’s largest passenger vessel, Queen Mary 2. The New Zealand students will ultimately be recruited onto any one of the Line’s vessels.

The students flew to the corners of the world to join their ships in early July. Two embarked on board the Diamond Princess in Seattle and will sail with this ship back to New Zealand in January next year when it will become the largest vessel ever to visit this country.

While onboard, the students will do regular assignments as well as completing a record book as practical skills are mastered. The remainder of the three-year Diploma in Nautical Science programme involves intense study at the Maritime School, including extensive bridge watch-keeping training conducted in the Maritime School’s full mission bridge simulator.

The Master Foreign Going qualification, which follows on from the Diploma in Nautical Science and Second Mate Foreign Going qualification, enables students to ultimately captain a vessel, some of which can carry over 2500 passengers and 1100 crew and cost upwards of NZ$800 million.

There are currently 22 students studying towards the Second Mate Foreign Going qualification at the New Zealand Maritime School. A further 21 students are currently at the School completing their Master Foreign Going qualifications.

For further information:
Tim Wilson
New Zealand Maritime School
Telephone: 09 379 4997