Maritime English for Senior Engine Officers - American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Approved

Senior Engine Officers oversee the Marine engineering department on the vessel and hold responsibility for the maintenance and operation of all engineering equipment onboard the vessel. They ensure that there is a surplus of fuel and spare parts, and that the engine room is clean, safe, well running, and suitable for inspection by coastguard authorities and other inspectors. The above duties demand the highest standard of English, and the VIRSEC Maritime English Test for Senior Engineering Officers is designed to assist Ship Operators and employers make recruiting and training decisions by assessing the English language understanding and skills of crew in this role.

About the Test

The fully online, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Approved, Maritime English Test for Senior Engineering Officers is designed to assist Ship Operators and employers make recruiting and training decisions by assessing the English language understanding and skills of crew at a Senior Engineering Officer position. The Test is also useful for any person wishing to pursue a career at sea to prove their English language competence to prospective employers. The Test is designed around the approved guidelines for Maritime English developed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and are combined with internationally recognised methods for English language testing to form a rigorous and accurate testing system for use in the maritime sector. Delegates will first receive an explanation of the Tests, then take part in a short sample test to demonstrate how it works. They will then take part in the actual timed Official Maritime English Test and receive a final score upon successful completion, they are awarded a certificate to demonstrate their pass.

Regulations & Codes Addressed

The English Tests are designed from the ground up using approved guidelines from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO Model English Course 3.17); IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCPs); and consistent with the functional framework set out by the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW).

Target Audience & Level

The VIRSEC Maritime English Test for Senior Engineering Officers is designed to assess candidates’ English language competence between the levels of ‘Upper-Intermediate’ and ‘Advanced’ (CEFR (Europe): C1 to C2 and ILR (United States): Level 3 to 4). A candidate at these levels will be able to understand and produce frequently used expressions relating to areas of most immediate relevance to the function of a Senior Engineering Officer onboard ship. This corresponds to the STCW Maritime

Functional Areas below:

• Maritime Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Ship Repair & Maintenance
• Ship Operations, Crew & Passengers

Test Contents

Listening questions consist of 40% of the total test questions and are designed to be context rich and to simulate real-world scenarios, including sound effects such as storm-noises, radio interference & static and international accents. Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCPs) are used throughout the tests, and listening questions feature VHF and hand-held radio, training briefings, emergency PA broadcasts, and face-to-face crew encounters.

Subjects

• Comprehension of spoken and written emergency commands.
• Medical and fire emergencies, first aid and firefighting.
• Location and purpose of health and safety and emergency equipment.
• Ranks, roles and routines of crew members and other officers.
• Interactions with fellow crew members and officers.
• Ship and other General Maritime Knowledge.
• Navigation, Nautical Charts and Meteorology.
• Standard and Emergency Communications.
• Ship Pilotage and Berthing.
• Cargo Handling and Operations.