The issue of building three production training vessels is under consideration

This is stated in the response of the Department of Professional Education, Certification and Information Security of the Navigation Safety Administration of the Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport to the appeal of the Baltic Territorial Organization of the Seafarers' Union of Russia, which was submitted to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin during the Direct Line. 

BTO SUR notes that shipboard training is an integral part of professional education of future navigators, marine engineers and electricians - it is necessary for cadets to confirm academic knowledge and obtain practical skills. Besides, a shipboard training is a way to get a service qualification necessary to gain a Certificate of Competency. 

In Soviet times, all these matters were addressed through the building of production training ships equipped with modern equipment, where a progressive form of training— shipboard semesters - were tested. In fact, this approach helped many cadets to start their carrier. 

Today, the situation with the training fleet has room for improvement. Even the country's leading institutes do not have modern training vessels. Suffice it to say that the training vessel “Professor Khlyustin” was built in 1973. 

The Baltic Territorial Organization of the Seafarers' Union of Russia believes an integrated approach, including state support for the building of modern training vessels, their maintenance and operation is needed to address this issue. Note that SUR has brought up a subject of building of training ships repeatedly. 

The response to the latest appeal states: “Currently, Rosmorrechflot, by order of the President of the Russian Federation, together with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, is considering the issue of building three production training vessels.” 

BTO SUR adds that the efforts of the Russian Government are aimed at development of shipping routes: the infrastructure of the Northern Sea Route is being improved, new vessels are being built, and the capacity of transport and logistics lanes is being increased. Successful addressing of all issues also implies the involvement of many specialists. The trade union emphasizes that a special role here is given to seafarers, for whom work experience, including a service on board modern training vessels, is an important component of their professional competencies. 

Based on materials from BTO SUR