Navigation and Seamanship Concepts Learned and Students’ Level of Satisfaction in Training Ship

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the concepts learned in Navigation and Seamanship as well as the level of satisfaction of students’ in using the training ship in terms of food, accommodation, readiness of venue, quantity of equipment, activities, speakers, and ships’ crew. The respondents of this study were the 129 students of JBLFMU-Arevalo. They were selected through stratified and cluster sampling. A questionnaire was sent to the respondents through e-mail and Facebook messenger to gather the data. The comments of the students were classified according to themes. For BSMT 1 – Familiarization and Ship Tour, in Navigation, the themes are learning the ship nomenclature and manipulating the different navigational equipment onboard, inculcating skills to plan and manage a ship for safety voyage, employing the concepts learned about the various ship positioning to arrive at the port or point of destination, and refining the importance of learning the qualities of a competent navigator. In Seamanship, the themes are enhancing concepts learned about the importance of prioritizing safety on board and learning the International Maritime Law, learning the important purposes and uses of the different navigational equipment on board, improving skills on proper operation of the ship, and uplifting the duties and responsibilities of officers and crew members on board. For BSMT 2, Port and Anchor Watch, in Navigation, the themes are, learning the uses and importance of the different navigational equipment on board, different types of navigation use to navigate accurately, employing the concepts learned about the various ship positioning to arrive at the port or point of destination, uplifting the duties and responsibilities of officers and crew members on board, and defining navigation for watercraft. In Seamanship, the themes are learning about anchor operations, familiarizing different parts of the ship, integrating seamanship skills in navigation, enhancing concepts learned about the importance of prioritizing safety on board, learning mooring operation, and definition of seamanship. For BSMT 3, Navigational Trip, in Navigation, the theme is learning the different navigational equipment on board and for Seamanship, improving seamanship skills. Having different themes for every year level indicates that the students have actually learned various knowledge about Navigation and Seamanship during their stay onboard the training ship. For the students’ level of satisfaction, the grand mean is described as “High”. This means that some aspects are good in terms of food, accommodation, venue, quantity of equipment, activities, speakers, and ships’ crew. This study concludes that the concepts learned by students’ in Navigation and Seamanship varies in each activity. Furthermore, the students were highly satisfied in using the training ship’s amenities in terms of food, accommodation, readiness of venue, quantity of equipment, activities, speakers, and ships’ crew. The researchers recommend another follow-up study to include respondents from other units as well and some other non-JBLFMU/JBLCF students utilizing the training ship to further validate the results, reduce the number of students participating in every activity to optimum to maximize the outcome intended for each activity, and finally, create a multiple choice questionnaire to assess better the concepts learned and to be given personally to the respondents.