The Directorate General of Training (DGT) under Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship offers a range of vocational training courses catering to the need of different sectors of Labour market. The vocational training programmes are running under aegis of National Council of Vocational Training (NCVT). Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) and Apprenticeship Training Scheme (ATS) are two pioneer programmes under NCVT for propagating vocational training.

The Vessel Navigator trade under CTS is one of the less explored trades in India but has huge potential considering the present shipping industry. The course is of two years (04 semester) duration. It mainly consists of Domain area and Core area. In the Domain area (Trade Theory & Practical) impart professional skills and knowledge, while Core area (Workshop Calculation & science, Engineering Drawing and Employability Skills) impart requisite core skill, knowledge and life skills. After passing out the training program, the trainee is awarded National Trade Certificate (NTC) by NCVT which is recognized worldwide.

Trainee broadly needs to demonstrate that they are able to:

• Read & interpret technical parameters/documentation, plan and organize work processes, identify necessary materials and tools;
• Perform tasks with due consideration to safety rules, accident prevention regulations and environmental protection stipulations;
• Apply professional knowledge, core skills & employability skills while performing the job, and navigation work.
• Document the technical parameters in tabulation sheet related to the task undertaken.

JOB ROLE

Vessel Navigator; trainees are well trained in various aspects such as navigation of fishing vessel in the sea, seaman ship, chart work practical, marine meteorology, safety of life at sea, use, care and maintenance of various life saving, fire fighting appliances used onboard a fishing vessel. The various precautions to be taken while fishing for the safety of the crew is also included. Vessel navigators are capable to carry out following works onboard the fishing vessel such as preparation for the voyage, casting off from the jetty, ensuring the tide conditions, observing weather forecast, chart preparation for passage planning, maneuvering the vessel, efficient watch keeping (i.e. look out), carry out anchor work, anchoring the vessel, anchor watch duty and heaving the anchor, carry out preparation for fishing operation such as trawling and other than trawling and also to maintain the quality of fish catch onboard, perform on hygienic fish handling and preservation.

In the event of emergency or distress situations they are well versed to operate various life saving equipments, fire fighting appliances and communication equipments. The vessel Navigator can perform operation of various fishing methods namely trawling, purse seining, longlining, gill netting, squid jigging, trolling, pole and line etc. and also pros and cons of operating different fishing gears. Maintain responsible fishing to sustain the fishery resources and ecosystem. In addition understands design and fabrication of various fishing gears and also the use of various devices to carry out the responsible fishing.

Awareness of different types of material available in the fishing industry and select suitable materials for fabrication of different type of fishing gear. Knows different type of fishing gear accessories and select suitable accessories to carry out the different type of fishing methods. Vessel navigator is conversant with the deck layout of different fishing craft and required deck equipments.

The awareness of marine environment and marine fishery resources is essential to carry out the fishing operations, in this contest this course is designed to teach about the marine environment and marine fishery resources.

Plan and organize assigned work and detect & resolve issues during execution. Demonstrate possible solutions and agree tasks within the team. Communicate with required clarity and understand technical English. Sensitive to environment, self-learning and productivity.

NSQF LEVEL COMPLIANCE

NSQF level for Vessel Navigator trade under CTS: Level 5

As per notification issued by Govt. of India dated- 27.12.2013 on National Skill Qualification Framework total 10 (Ten) Levels are defined.

Each level of the NSQF is associated with a set of descriptors made up of five outcome statements, which describe in general terms, the minimum knowledge, skills and attributes that a learner needs to acquire in order to be certified for that level.

Each level of the NSQF is described by a statement of learning outcomes in five domains, known as level descriptors. These five domains are:

• a. Process
• b. Professional Knowledge
• c. Professional Skill
• d. Core Skill
• e. Responsibility 

The broad Learning outcome of Vessel Navigator trade under CTS mostly matches with the Level descriptor at Level- 5.

Learning outcomes

• 1. Recognize & comply safe working practices, environment regulation and housekeeping.
• 2. Understand and explain different mathematical calculation & science in the field of study including basic electrical. [Different mathematical calculation & science -Work, Power & Energy, Algebra, Geometry & Mensuration, Trigonometry, Heat & Temperature, Levers & Simple machine, graph, Statistics, Centre of gravity, Power transmission, Pressure]
• 3. Interpret specifications, different engineering drawing and apply for different application in the field of work. [Different engineering drawing-Geometrical construction, Dimensioning, Layout, Method of representation, Symbol, scales, Different Projections, Machined components & different thread forms, Assembly drawing, Sectional views, Estimation of material, Electrical & electronic symbol]
• 4. Select and ascertain measuring instrument and measure dimension of components and record data.
• 5. Explain the concept in productivity, quality tools, and labour welfare legislation and apply such in day to day work to improve productivity & quality.
• 6. Explain energy conservation, global warming and pollution and contribute in day to day work by optimally using available resources.
• 7. Explain personnel finance, entrepreneurship and manage/organize related task in day to day work for personal & societal growth.
• 8. Plan and organize the work related to the occupation. 

SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOME

Semester – I

• 9. Calculate plane parallel sailing to find course and distance between two positions.
• 10. Calculate set and drift current from DR position to fix. 
• 11. Calculate course, distance and position arrived using Mercator sailing method.
• 12. Illustrate altitude corrections.
• 13. Distinguish various fishing methods and select suitable fishing gears according to the fish resources.
• 14. Plan and Fabricate specific fishing gears by selecting suitable material.
• 15. Recognize basic design concept of fishing gear and select suitable fishing gear, technique to carryout fishing. 

Semester – II

• 16. Use different navigational equipment and examine the compass error (Different important navigational equipment – sextant, azimuth mirror, pelorus, chronometer.)
• 17. Choose various parameters to determine position of celestial body. (various parameters:- GHA, LHA, Longitude)
• 18. Examine the breaking strength, safe work load of ropes, blocks and tackles in marine use and apply the same during execution in various situations.
• 19. Plan & perform fabrication of fishing gears especially trawls by various techniques. (Various techniques:- TED and BRD)
• 20. Design and construction of fishing gears.
• 21. Identify fishing gear accessories.
• 22. Collect data on fishing from different source and analyse the same to perform navigation. (Different sources – Fishing vessels, dock yards, net making factory)

Semester – III

• 23. Perform dry docking and maintain fishing vessel including painting schedule.
• 24. Plan and make vessel ready for certificate inspection.
• 25. Recognize and act on different critical situation during on board navigation. (Different critical situation - accidents, collision, man overload, leak, bad weather preparation, aground.)
• 26. Analyze the various aspect of ship stability to prepare for voyage. (Various aspect – displacement, effect of density on draft and displacement, dead weight, load)
• 27. Recognize various subsistent fishing gears to operate the same for commercial fishing. (Various subsistent fishing gears:-Pole and line, troll line, changadom, raft, bag bet, dol net, shore seine, Chinese net, cast net, trammel net, tangle net)
• 28. Locate the marine fishery resources of India and apply fishing techniques for the exploitation of marine fishery resources.

Semester – IV

• 29. Calculate by chronometer and Intercept method to find direction of position line and position.
• 30. Distinguish types of anchor, anchoring procedure and demonstrate anchoring of vessel.
• 31. Distinguish different emergency situation and observe standard guidelines during voyage. (Different emergency situation – Abandoning, distress signals, storm signals)
• 32. Analyze different advance ship stability features and arrange loading, discharging, shifting cargo onboard for stability. (Different advance ship stability features – Centre of Gravity, Centre of buoyancy, transverse stability, list, heel.)
• 33. Explain conservation, management of marine fishery, handling of fish on board and comply such in day to day work.
• 34. Illustrate fish preservation technique, avoid spoilage and set up appropriate technique for preservation and maintain quality of fish. (Appropriate fishing technique – chilling, freezing, salting, curing, sun drying, canning and smoking.)