Brittany Ferries

Brittany Ferries is a major cross channel ferry operator on the Western Channel of the UK, carrying 53% of all UK passengers to France, plus routes to Spain from the UK and France from Ireland. The company currently operates seven ferries and one fast craft, including the Pont-Aven which is the largest and fastest cruise-ferry on the English Channel. Every year the company carries over 2,700,000 passengers plus 800,000 cars and 180,000 freight vehicles.

Julian Lee is Duty Operations Manager responsible for hazardous goods control. 'For many years, Brittany Ferries sent staff needing hazardous goods training on a 3 day course off site. The cost of these courses, travel to and from the venue and the time that the staff were away from their core role was significant, but for many years this was the only viable option. When Brittany Ferries first met Exis Technologies in 2009 to discuss the potential of using the IMDG Code e-learning training program, it was quite clear that it had the potential to not only reduce costs, but to offer a course that was easy to monitor the candidates' progress. The set up was reasonably simple and once each staff member had received their introductory email and logon in details, they were free to start.

One of the main problems that industry currently faces is how to cost-effectively train the workforce whilst minimising any negative effect of taking staff out of their core role during training. Brittany Ferries found that the e-learning course met our IMDG code training needs and was flexible enough for our staff to complete the course at their own pace. Whilst we set a deadline for course completion, it allowed each member of staff the ability to complete the course in their own time, ranging from one day to three weeks.

Since we implemented the course throughout our UK ports all of our operational staff have taken and successfully completed the course. We are also now looking to use the e-learning program to help with IMDG code training for some of our colleagues in both France and Spain. The feedback from our UK staff has been very positive. In general, our staff acknowledged that the course was specific to their needs for hazardous cargo training, that they were able to renew/update their existing knowledge and learn new information.

Brittany Ferries are very pleased that we have been able to use the IMDG code e-learning program from Exis Technologies. The course has offered our staff a flexible, cost effective and intuitive method of delivering training to the relevant personnel. The feed back from our staff taking the course has been very positive. It is easy to install onto our computer system, easy for the staff to understand and complete each section, and for the administrators to monitor the progress of each staff member at various locations. All in all a very useful and effective e-learning tool.'

IMDG Code e-learning is a cost-effective online training tool for all shore side staff involved in the handling and transport of dangerous goods by sea. It was developed with the support of the International Maritime Organization, and gives high quality training that complies with both the general awareness and function specific training requirements in the IMDG Code.