The SeaTALK project concerns the development a standard International online English language course for seafarers. The course will be in line with IMO requirements and the European Qualification Framework. The project is expected to
support the Maritime English standards developed as part of the EU funded MarTEL and MarTEL Plus projects. The course will be incorporated in the EU funded UniMET Project when concluded in 2015. MarTEL and MarTEL Plus developed a set of standards (tests) in English language competency for seafarers and UniMET is a set of complete training programmes for all types and ranks of ship officers. SeaTALK will form the English Language competency development material and tools for UniMET.
Vocational training qualifications and certifications related to Maritime English, although partially regulated by IMO, do not have a common European credit framework and this situation does not allow National Certification Authorities to establish an International standard for Maritime English training, nor for qualifications acquired through non-formal and informal training. SeaTALK aims to develop a Maritime English Training Course to allow mutual recognition and transparency of learning outcomes and competences for Maritime English in Europe. The Course is expected to have a global impact.
This paper reports on the challenges facing SeaTALK to make the course compliant with IMO 3.17 Model Course and the European Qualification Framework as well as the Common European Credit Framework. The main challenge continues to be the
development of the course to underpin the MarTEL standards.