Maritime students buoyed by cruise operator interest

Students from the New Zealand Maritime School in Auckland could one day be captaining the world's largest passenger ships, following a commitment from cruise vessel operator Princess Cruises to provide scholarships to top students.

Five of the navigating cadets who began their studies in February have been selected by Princess Cruises and have just joined their first vessels.

The scholarships will be extended to include engineering officer cadets in 2006.

Maritime School Director Tim Wilson says the decision by Princess Cruises to provide scholarships and sea training recognises the quality of New Zealand-trained officers. Before agreeing to the scholarships, Princess had thoroughly examined the quality of the school's graduates, standards and policies.

The announcement coincides with predictions of an acute international shortage of maritime expertise and calls for the industry and governments to address the lack of new entrant training.

Princess Cruises will provide the sea-time component of the three-year Diploma in Nautical Science and Second Mate Foreign Going qualifications, for which students spend a third of their time at sea.

Princess Cruises is part of the Carnival group, as are the Cunard and P&O Lines. The group operates a fleet of 77 vessels, including the world's largest passenger vessel, Queen Mary 2.

The New Zealand students will ultimately be recruited on to one of the line's vessels.

This year's successful students joined their training ships in early July.

Two embarked on board the Diamond Princess in Seattle and will sail with this ship back to New Zealand in January next year, when it will become the largest vessel to visit this country.

While onboard, the students will do regular assignments as well as completing a record book as they master practical skills.

The remainder of the three-year Diploma in Nautical Science programme involves study at the Maritime School, including extensive bridge watch-keeping training conducted in the Maritime School's full mission bridge simulator.

The Master Foreign Going qualification, which follows the Diploma in Nautical Science and Second Mate Foreign Going qualification, enables students ultimately to captain vessels, some of which carry more than 2500 passengers and 1100 crew and cost upwards of $800 million.

There are 22 students studying towards the Second Mate Foreign Going qualification at the school. A further 21 are completing their Master Foreign Going qualifications.