Nautilus agrees extended sea time for cadets caught out by Covid pandemic
16 June 2020
Nautilus has reached agreement with the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) to allow consecutive phasing of cadet sea time in response to training disruptions wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nautilus agreed to the changes for existing cadets who have been affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic under the proviso that each period of sea time would be no longer than five months and would have readily available free access to the internet and communications where required as well as regular check-ups with the company, and with friends and family.
The changes mean that first and third phases of cadet training can be consecutively delivered for the cohort of students affected by the pandemic.
Cadets who are being consecutively phased will receive a minimum of one week's leave for every month onboard, which must be taken before they can join another vessel.
A cadet with 12 months of sea time needed to complete their training could therefor do four months on and one month off in three stages.
The move should benefit phase one cadets who were coming up to phase two when the global pandemic hit. These cadets were not able to join their ships and were stuck at home with training colleges closed.
These cadets are now facing a huge deficit of sea time.
As of June 16, two colleges – Glasgow and Fleetwood – had received approval for consecutive college phasing.
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