In 2020 IJUBOA received a grant from Trinity House to transform the traditional ‘Blue Book’ used to record sea-service time, and turn this into an online app. Over the past two years, we have been working with SwiftTrack to develop this.
The aim was to a create virtual logbook capable of storing both visual and written information to support the candidate in achieving qualifications and also enabling his/her qualifications and experience to be validated to avoid spurious attempts to gain employment in the capacity of a Barge Master.
Through this new business model, IJUBOA is actively encouraging Barge Masters and supporting crew around the world to become members of IJUBOA, each holding a virtual blue logbook which contains information on their qualifications and experience. It is IJUBOA’s intention that this should become the industry standard and that all owner, operator companies will require the IJUBOA logbook system for their employees in the certain knowledge that the information contained in the logbook is a true record of their qualifications and more importantly, their actual experience in field conditions.
For someone new to the industry, the online system will help them to navigate the milestones, and theoretical and performance criteria they must meet to achieve Barge Master Status.
The app encompasses a sea-service log which individuals can use to record their time away on projects, a lessons learned feature to record incidents and findings, a portal to upload all mandatory (and any additional) training certificates and a mechanism to upload testimonials.
An on-board mentor will also receive a login which they can use to verify the candidates experience and to provide additional evidence against their competence. All of this information is then signed off by an Assessor.
We have also designed a route for experienced barge master’s to achieve the above through a grandfathered route.
For both pathways, the candidates’ profiles will then be sampled and verified by IJUBOA’s Barge Master Review Committee (comprised of our Executive Committee and Audit Experts) and then individual’s will become eligible to sit the Barge Master Final Assessment Exam which is hosted, invigilated and certificated by The Nautical Institute.
The Nautical Institute is the global body for maritime professionals and is a non-governmental organisation with consultative status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Once the final exam has been passed, individuals will be issued with an IJUBOA Barge Master certificate.
*Individuals not wishing to enrol in the certification system will still be able to use SwiftTrack as a sea-service record.
Please read the following standard which details how to use the app, evidence requirements, the role of the mentor and assessors and the certification process. Click here to view.
It is important to note that IJUBOA cannot train Barge Masters. This pathway has been created to support the development of an individual and it is the responsibility of the employer organisation to provide the necessary training for a Barge Master to operate vessels’ competently.
As an appointed mentor to a Trainee Barge Master, mentors have a responsibility to use their own knowledge and experience of industry working practices and techniques to make a judgement of a learner’s knowledge, understanding and practical performance. They will receive their own unique login to track the progress of the candidate and must sign them off only when they are fully confident that they are competent to carry out the task/role being assessed and determine if the assessment criteria has been met.
The mentor will also verify the candidate’s sea service log to provide an evidenced account that the experience they have recorded is true and accurate. A company assessor will give the candidate the final sign-off.
To ensure mentors have the correct experience to be signing individual’s off, IJUBOA requires the following information:
An up-to-date CV signed by the individual’s Company Director (this should include a brief overview of sea-service). The CV should include contact details for at least two previous employers who may be contacted by IJUBOA as reference check
A company headed letter completed by a Company Director verifying the individual has the correct experience to act as a mentor – click here to download the template.
All of the above will be reviewed by IJUBOA’s Barge Master Review Committee and the individual will only be accepted to act as a mentor when the Review Committee are fully satisfied.
The mentor should assist candidates with the following:
As an appointed mentor to a Trainee Barge Master, mentors have a responsibility to use their own knowledge and experience of industry working practices and techniques to make a judgement of a learner’s knowledge, understanding and practical performance. They will receive their own unique login to track the progress of the candidate and must sign them off only when they are fully confident that they are competent to carry out the task/role being assessed and determine if the assessment criteria has been met.
The mentor will also verify the candidate’s sea service log to provide an evidenced account that the experience they have recorded is true and accurate. A company assessor will give the candidate the final sign-off.
To ensure mentors have the correct experience to be signing individual’s off, IJUBOA requires the following information:
An up-to-date CV signed by the individual’s Company Director (this should include a brief overview of sea-service). The CV should include contact details for at least two previous employers who may be contacted by IJUBOA as reference check
A company headed letter completed by a Company Director verifying the individual has the correct experience to act as a mentor – click here to download the template.
All of the above will be reviewed by IJUBOA’s Barge Master Review Committee and the individual will only be accepted to act as a mentor when the Review Committee are fully satisfied.
If your question is not answered above or within the other documents available on the website, please contact carly@ijuboa.com
If your question is not answered above or within the other documents available on the website, please contact carly@ijuboa.com
The learning programme on the app has been collated by IJUBOA’s Executive Committee and industry experts. The app encompasses:
The content has been designed for use on mobile devices. The delivery of the content is through the SwiftTrack application software which is a mobile device learning management software. The app is available across IoS, Android and computer devices, and has offline functionality.
The Nautical Institute is the global body for maritime professionals and is a non-governmental organisation with consultative status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Once the IJUBOA and The Nautical Institute are satisfied, the individual will be eligible to sit the Barge Master exam and achieve Certified Barge Master status.
*Individuals not wishing to enrol in the certification system will still be able to use SwiftTrack as a sea-service record.
