Apprenticeship at AIDA
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AIDA is the only cruise line that educates mechatronic technicians in the naval sector. Participants in the mechatronics training program develop expertise in the high-tech equipment on modern ships. In 2008 the Rostock Chamber of Industry and Commerce granted AIDA Cruises an award for this innovative and high-quality training program. Eighty-five trainees, nautical interns, and students currently work at AIDA Cruises, and fifty new ones join the company each year.
In a training period of three and a half years, these young professionals learn on land and at sea how to repair and maintain electrical and mechanical systems. They gain expertise in complex naval systems, and in the third year, they receive specialized training in electrical engineering, HVAC systems, or hotel technology. Onboard a cruise ship, mechatronic technicians are responsible for a broad range of duties, including the analysis, maintenance and repair of electronics, control systems, and HVAC equipment, as well as drive, engine, steam, and security technologies. Mechatronic technicians must also understand complex emergency and firefighting systems.
“Once they’ve completed their training, they can assume a variety of different positions on board. Going into the final phase of the program, we discuss the future training path to be pursued by each student on an individual basis. After they’ve obtained initial practical experience onboard, students are then able to select the area in which they want to work,” says Daniel Schimmelpfennig, training coordinator at AIDA. Graduates of the training program obtain engine-room watch certification in accordance with the STCW as well as a degree in mechatronics from the Rostock Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Graduates are then qualified to assume positions on board or in a variety of other industrial fields. The demands placed on students are high, however. “The complex and challenging training program necessitates a high degree of motivation, initiative, and flexibility,” Daniel Schimmelpfennig explains. “Applicants to the training program should have performed well in their secondary education, with good grades in math and physics, and have some practical experience. Good English skills are also essential for working with an international crew.”
The mechatronic trainees are educated on board by experienced officers. In addition to practical training at sea, students attend courses on land at two different schools in Rostock.
Students who demonstrate particular promise can receive a grant for enrollment in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program at the European Cruise Academy, or may be hired by AIDA and follow a career path for specialist or management employees. At the AIDA Academy, we offer bachelor’s degree programs in nautical science as well as in electrical and maritime engineering. Additional information can be found at www.european-cruise-academy.com.
