Diploma in Shipping and Freight

By JANINE OGIER

The course

The New Zealand Maritime School offers people wanting a career in freight and shipping the skills to get a job in the import/export business.

Graduates of the one-year, full-time, level-five NZQA Diploma in Shipping and Freight end up working in port agencies, import/export companies, shipping, air freight, freight forwarding, customs agencies and transport firms.

Many graduates go into customer service or marketing roles, others look after ship crews when they are in port. Other jobs include container controllers or planning roles or import/export finance and administration positions.

Students can begin the course in February or July, at the Maritime School's Quay St premises in central Auckland.

The school is a part of Manukau Institute of Technology.

People attend 24 hours of structured classes a week over two 17-week semesters. They are expected to study for a further 16 hours in their own time.

Students pursue theory topics including modes and intermodalism, transport geography, import/export practice, port agency and the commercial port, claims, dangerous goods, IATA/FIATA Diploma (Air), IATA Cargo Tariffs (Air), communication, customer services and computer and keyboard skills.

Individual assessment is based on written assignments and exams.

People go on eight to 10 field trips throughout the course, including one overnight trip and a week-long excursion. The field trips give students first-hand knowledge of ports, the export procedures of major companies, and shipping operations.

Applicants are interviewed for the 18 places offered each semester. Candidates need to be enthusiastic, committed and show good communications skills. They need a good standard of attainment in NCEA or equivalent.

The course cost $4200 including GST in 2003 and the fee includes field trips and books.

Graduates can become members of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

Those wishing to further their studies can enrol in a Graduate Certificate in Shipping or Freight and Logistics. Both are full-time six-month NZQA level six courses.

What students think

Nathaniel Betham, 18

FESCO scholarship winner 2004

Auckland


"I was interested in shipping as in Samoa it is not really in the mainstream of professions.

No one offers it as a qualification in Samoa so I came here.

My brother is in the shipping industry as well. He took the course, too, and now works as a freight forwarder.

My father and uncle have shares in a shipping agency and stevedoring and cartage company and my father works for the Samoan Government in shipping.

On the course, the practical work is applied in the assignments. It helps you be prepared for work in the industry.

The tutors are helpful and the classes are relevant to work.

We go on field trips to help with the assignments, as well. We went to an onion factory to see how to pack a container with onions.

And we go to ports to get the idea of how ships berth, and what's involved and the documentation needed."

What employers think

Craig Landon

Regional manager, FESCO Lines NZ Ltd.

Auckland


"Completing the course makes it easier for us to integrate that person into our business in the sense that within our own staff induction programme it means we can take a lot of time out of it.

It makes bringing on someone new a lot faster, and their contribution to the company starts a lot quicker.

Rather than bringing someone on and explaining what is a very technical process and a technical industry, a graduate can integrate into our organisation more effectively.

The Maritime School goes out of its way to ensure the course is directly industry related.

With our geographical location and our climate of trade, we really need to have new people coming through with new ideas and a high calibre of skill and ability. I think the Maritime School is an integral part of that.

We support one student each year with a scholarship and subsidise the studies, offer part-time work during study breaks and a full-time job upon completion.

Our business has been growing and we hire graduates every year.

Within the Auckland market there is a shortage of good candidates for most businesses and I think the freight industry is no different."

The qualification

Diploma in Shipping and Freight, New Zealand Maritime School

Phone: 09 379 4997

Email

Starting salary: $28,000 to $33,000