AUTOQUEST, Course Approvals, and Certification of Marine Crews
by
Arthur Kevan Parry
(Master Mariner. Dip. Naut. Sc., B. Voc. Ed.)
(For presentation at the International Maritime Lecturers Association
Conference (IMIA9)
on Maritime Education and Training - Advanced 'Technology
and Manning, September I 6.20,1996, at Kobe, Japan.
Acting as the AUTOQUEST Project Co-ordinator, the author has been
designated to further the automation of the seafarer written examination process with the
Canadian federal Department of Transport (Transport Canada) at Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Since September 1990, the author has been a Marine Surveyor and Examiner in Nautical
Examinations and is a former lecturer in nautical subjects at the Marine Institute of
Newfoundland; he is a graduate of both the Canadian Coast Guard College (Class '75), and
of Memorial University of Newfoundland ('91), and is presently a graduate student at the
University of Ottawa (M. Ed. studies in Measurement and Evaluation).
Abstract:
This is a description of the use of personal computer-based software to
implement automated generation of paper-and-pencil examinations by The Canadian federal
Department of Transport (Transport Canada). The presentation of the paper is intended to
encourage discussion about the sharing of item-banks with maritime education and training
institutions.
The AUTOQUEST system is essential to satisfy operational review
recommendations with respect to the security, effectiveness and efficiency of the marine
personnel examination and certification system. The project will also support the current
Ship Safety Branch policy of sharing examination responsibility with the marine schools.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article represent Only the author's
views and there is no intent to represent these as being the views of the Department of
Transport nor of other Departmental personnel.
