This October, Portline Bulk International S.A., with the support of Alpha Navigation, Argentum Travel, and The Maritime Telegraph, held a seminar on maritime education. Representatives of the shipowner Crew Management, Teresa Quintinha and Filipa Abecasis, attended the event. They explored key methods of candidate selection for employment, principles of training Ukrainian seafarers, and other important aspects of maritime education.
Mykhaylo Miyusov, rector of Odesa Maritime Academy (NU “OMA”), spoke about the university’s history and ongoing work. The hall was filled with seafarers from Portline Bulk International S.A. who are graduates of Odesa Maritime Academy. According to Rector Miyusov, about 10,000 cadets are currently enrolled at the academy. Approximately 60% study full-time, while the rest (ratings and officers) combine distance learning with work at sea.
Many cadets begin their professional careers aboard Portline Bulk International S.A. vessels. The company is keen to nurture its own qualified officers starting from cadet positions, which explains its close collaboration with Odesa Maritime Academy, founded in 1944. The Maritime Telegraph sought to understand how much has changed since then. Chief Mate Ivan Vishnev shared his views on the academy’s current shortcomings and the reforms he believes modern maritime education requires.
Ivan himself is a graduate of NU “OMA.” The first issue he noticed was the outdated teaching materials, often repeatedly republished.
“If I were invited to give a lecture at the Maritime Academy on any topic, I would focus on MARPOL,” Ivan said. “Many would agree that environmental pollution is one of the most pressing global issues today. It’s essential for seafarers to understand the importance of plastic and waste recycling and to be reminded of proper household waste management. For instance, most people don’t even consider twisting a plastic bottle before discarding it. By doing so, we can reduce the volume of waste and, ultimately, the total amount of plastic sent for recycling. Small actions like this, if practiced widely, could make a significant impact. While these measures may seem obvious, not everyone applies them. It’s crucial to instill such common-sense knowledge in students from an early age.”
In addition, Ivan proposed introducing a new subject in the curriculum focused on the latest innovations in the shipping industry. Each year, numerous manuals, regulations, and rules related to personal safety, ship security, and environmental protection are published. Understanding them is mandatory for every seafarer.
“It is vital to study safety on board throughout the entire educational process,” he added. “I would even create a dedicated subject to teach cadets that safety comes first, alongside essential environmental protection measures. These are the issues that matter most today.”
Ivan embarked on his first voyage in 2000 and is now Chief Mate on Portline Bulk International S.A. vessels. Over more than nine years at sea, he encountered many challenges he had to address independently. Topics often not covered in modern maritime education. For example, he is now deeply engaged in studying legal English, which all officers must know to handle official documentation.
Despite these challenges, Odesa Maritime Academy remains one of Ukraine’s leading maritime higher-education institutions. Global leaders in the shipping industry, including Portline Bulk International S.A., collaborate with NU “OMA” and employ its cadets. Each year, numerous highly qualified specialists graduate from the academy, consistently ranking among the most in-demand maritime professionals worldwide.
