20 mm tons/ year in 1986 to 68 mm tons/ year in 1995 with 90% of the
total annual figure being transported by sea. Obviously, developing the national sea
transport is an essential task at the present time and also in the future. Therefore, the
objectives of this paper are:
- To overview the present MET in Vietnam and find out its weaknesses.
- To describe a reform in the MET system to match future requirements.
II. OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENT SITUATION OF MET IN VIETNAM.
2.1. Structure of MET in Vietnam.
At present there are two levels of the education and training of
seafarers; vocational education and university education. The structure of the MET system
composes two vocational maritime schools and Vietnam Maritime University located in
Haiphong city and its branch in Ho Chi Minh city. The vocational schools (one located in
Haiphong and the other in Ho Chi Minh city) educate students, in an 18-month program, to
become ratings onboard ships. The education and training program mainly concentrates on
carrying out seamanship jobs an(l includes a 6-month sea-training job onboard training
vessels. The students' highest carreers in the future are Bosuns and Fitters.
The University level education and training of seafarers is carried out
only at Vietnam Maritime University and its branch in Ho Chi Minh city. The duration of
the MET is 5 years and graduated students get a Bachelor of Science degree. The young
navigators and engineers are almost all candidates for deck officers and engineer officers
on board Vietnamese vessels.
Except the academic courses for a Bachelors degree there are different
upgrading courses for navigators and engineers to get the Master Mariner and Chief
Engineer Certificates of 2nd and 1st class of competency. These courses are organized at
the so- called 'Maritime Training Center" which is one of the departments belonging
to the University. The Master Mariner and Chief Engineer courses last for a period of 16
weeks. Al the end of these courses, participants have to take examinations in the most
important subjects such as: Terrestrial Navigation, Celestial Navigation, Maritime Aids to
Navigation, Maritime Law for Navigators and Diesel Engine, Ship Automation, Operation of
Ship Propulsion Plant, Maritime Law and English. All examinations are oral.
The Master Mariner and Chief Engineer licenses are issued by the
Ministry of Transportation, based on the results of all examinations and sea experience.
The certificates of competency of deck and engineer officers are
classified to be issued by the Vietnam Maritime Bureau (VINAMARINE). The terms and
conditions to get these certificates are to take examinations, including the professional
and English examination, at VINAMARINE Examination Board. A mark over 5 (scale from 1 to
10) is satisfactory for
