WAVELINK CADETSPLUS PROGRAMME REPORT – 2026

Introduction

The CadetsPlus Programme is a pre-boarding training programme designed for cadets who are about to join their first ship. It is organized by the Singapore Maritime Officers' Union (SMOU) and Wavelink Maritime Institute (WMI), with support from the Singapore Maritime Training Fund (SMTF). The aim is to prepare cadets for life and work on board Singapore-managed ships before they begin sailing.

Main objectives

The programme helps cadets:

• Adapt to shipboard life and multinational crews.
• Improve communication and professional behavior.
• Develop leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
• Build a strong safety culture before joining a vessel.
• Understand maritime laws, company expectations, and onboard discipline.

Companies that participate

Many well-known shipping companies nominate their cadets to attend CadetsPlus, including:

• Fleet Management
• Maersk
• NYK
• BW Fleet Management
• PIL
• PACC Ship Managers
• MTM Ship Management
• Columbia Ship Management
• Seaspan
• MOL
• Laurel Ship Management
• And other Singapore-based shipping companies.

we were informed to report to AMET University on 2nd June 2026 for the Wavelink CadetsPlus Programme. The programme was conducted from 3rd June to 12th June 2026 (10 days), and cadets were permitted to leave the campus on 13th June after breakfast.

The programme was highly interactive and focused on preparing cadets for onboard life by improving communication skills, teamwork, safety awareness, professionalism, leadership qualities, and practical maritime knowledge.

Reporting Day – 2nd June 2026

Fleet cadets reported to AMET University between 1300 hrs and 1500 hrs. Accommodation and food arrangements were provided for all cadets upon arrival.

Day 1 – 3rd June 2026

The programme officially commenced with an introduction and briefing session conducted by:

• Capt. Chandrasekhar
  Director of Placements, AMET University

The lectures on Day 1 were conducted by:

• Capt. Pradeep Choudhary
• Mr. Hisham (Chief Engineer)

Capt. Pradeep Choudhary began the first lecture on the topic “Safety Onboard.” The session was highly informative and emphasized the importance of safety culture onboard ships. The lecture was interactive, practical, and very useful for all cadets preparing for shipboard life.

On the very first day itself, Cadet Leaders were selected based on self-initiative and volunteering spirit.

The following cadets were selected:

• Cadet Leader (Boys): Cadet Abishek Saju – Fleet Ship Management
• Cadet Leader (Girls): Cadet Meera R Nair – Fleet Ship Management

The daily lecture schedule was from 0900 hrs to 1700 hrs, with proper breaks provided in between.

PLAYING CHESS WITH MR. HISHAM SIR

• Tea Break: 1030 hrs – 1045 hrs
• Lunch Break: 1300 hrs – 1430 hrs
• Evening Tea Break: Approximately 1515 hrs – 1530 hrs

After the lecture sessions ended at 1700 hrs, all Fleet Management cadets remained in the classroom while many other cadets had left. During this time, we interacted with Capt. Pradeep Choudhary, clarified doubts, and listened to his valuable shipboard experiences. His guidance and mentorship were highly appreciated by the Fleet cadets.

Day 2 Onwards –

As the class representative and cadet leader, I actively volunteered in organizing and coordinating various activities throughout the programme. This responsibility contributed significantly to my confidence, leadership qualities, communication skills, and personal development.

Topics Covered During the Programme

The following important maritime and professional development topics were covered during the programme:

• Shipboard Active & Effective Communication
• Shipboard Cultural Awareness & Cross-Cultural Communication
• Shipboard Mental Health & Stress Management
• Shipboard Organisation & Familiarisation
• Maritime Labour Convention – Work & Rest Hours Compliance
• Introduction to Classification Society, Port State Control & Flag State Control
• Overview of SOLAS, IMDG Code & ISM Code
• Overview of STCW & MLC
• Overview of MARPOL
• Code of Safe Working Practices (COSWP)
• Shipboard Emergency Response
• Shipboard Personal Safety & Personal Protective Equipment
• Shipboard Health & Hygiene
• Overview of Shipboard Risk Assessment & Safety Analysis

All the topics covered during the programme were extremely useful and practical for future onboard life. The lectures helped us understand real shipboard responsibilities, safety culture, teamwork, communication, and professional behaviour expected from seafarers.

The sessions were interactive, easy to understand, and supported with practical examples from shipboard operations. These topics will definitely help us in adapting safely and professionally onboard ships in the future.

Group Activities and Team Projects

Day 2 – 4th June 2026

All cadets were divided into 10 groups consisting of approximately 10 cadets each.

Each group was instructed to:

• Select a Group Leader
• Create a Group Name
• Create a Group Slogan

This activity served as an excellent ice-breaking session and encouraged interaction among cadets from different companies.

All group details including group names, slogans, leaders, and members were uploaded through a link provided by the faculty.

I was selected as the Leader of Group 3.

Safety Moment Project (6th June – 8th June)

The first major group activity was a project related to “Safety Moment.”

Each group was given the freedom to present their topic in various formats such as:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Video
• Images
• Skit
• Interactive Presentation

All groups actively participated, and every project demonstrated creativity, teamwork, and safety awareness.

The project discussions covered several important shipboard safety topics including:

• Safety Onboard
• Stress Management
• General Fire Hazards
• Risk Awareness on Campus
• Situational Awareness
• Stop Card
• Dangers of Pressure Building
• Drop Load Hazards
• Complacency – The Silent Hazard at Sea
• Mooring Station Awareness

This project became an excellent source of practical safety knowledge and helped us better understand the importance of risk awareness and safe working practices onboard ships.

My group’s topic was:

“How Stress Leads to Accidents at Sea”

Our group successfully presented the project with valuable contributions from three cadets who already had one contract of sailing experience onboard Seaspan vessels. Their real-life experiences made the presentation more practical, realistic, and informative.

Maritime Quiz Competition – 9th June 2026

As instructed by Mr. Hisham Sir, all cadets brought devices with internet access to participate in a maritime knowledge quiz competition conducted team-wise.

The quiz included questions related to:

• IMDG Code
• MLC
• MARPOL
• Maritime Safety
• Shipboard Operations

The activity was both enjoyable and educational. Winning teams and cadets were appreciated and rewarded with chocolates, which made the session more interactive and motivating.

On the same day, we were also assigned our second group activity on “Risk Assessment.”

Risk Assessment Project – 10th June 2026

All groups presented their Risk Assessment projects in front of the class.

This activity provided practical exposure to hazard identification, control measures, safe working procedures, and onboard safety management.

Group 3 presented a Risk Assessment on:

“Fresh Water Tank Entry, Cleaning, and Painting Operations”

The project included:

• Hazards involved
• Control measures
• PPE requirements
• Permit procedures
• Oxygen deficiency risks
• Toxic gas risks
• Safe entry procedures

This activity improved our understanding of enclosed space safety and risk management onboard ships

Day 9 – 11th June 2026

All cadets were provided login credentials for the Wavelink Learning Platform and were instructed to complete five online learning courses.

After the morning lecture session, Mr. Hisham Sir distributed chocolates and appreciated all groups for their active participation in both projects

Awards were also announced based on cadet voting and faculty evaluation.

Achievements of Group 3:

• Best Project Award – Risk Assessment
• Top 3 Overall Group Performance

This recognition was a proud and memorable moment for our group.

Final Day – 12th June 2026

The final day included sessions on:

• Things to Carry During Ship Joining
• Challenges Faced in Foreign Countries
• Practical Guidance for Joining Ships

In the afternoon, preparations and rehearsals were conducted for the graduation and certificate distribution ceremony.

As a Cadet Leader, I volunteered in organizing seating arrangements and coordinating cadets during the ceremony preparations.

The Masters of Ceremony for the Graduation Ceremony were:

• Cadet Amoghavarsha – Fleet Ship Management
• Cadet Sandhya – AP Moller

The Guests of Honour were:

• Dr. Sangeetha Albin
  Registrar, AMET University
• Mr. Wilfred Thiang
  Head Marketing, Wavelink Maritime Institute

The Graduation Ceremony was conducted approximately between 1700 hrs and 1800 hrs.

Awards and Recognition

Two special awards were presented during the ceremony:

Best in Academics Award

Awarded to:
Cadet Sandhya Rawat – AP Moller

Gift Presented:
Smart Watch

Most Outstanding Cadet Award

Awarded to: Cadet Abishek Saju – Fleet Ship Management Pte. Ltd.

Gift Presented: Redmi Pad

Following the award ceremony, I delivered the Vote of Thanks speech representing all cadets as the Cadet Leader.

Interaction with Fleet Management Officials

After the graduation ceremony, every company officials interacted with their cadets, motivated us, and guided us regarding our future careers.

The officials present from fleet management were:

• Capt. Makesh Sivarama Krishnan
• Capt. James Richards

We also took group photographs together, making it a memorable conclusion to the programme

Dinner for the final day was arranged by the organizers, and biriyani was served to all cadets.

Departure – 13th June 2026

After breakfast on 13th June 2026, all cadets departed from the campus and returned home.

Overall Experience and Feedback

Overall, I would rate the programme 9/10 based on the quality of knowledge, interaction, teamwork, and practical learning provided throughout the sessions.

The programme was highly interactive and educational. The group projects improved teamwork, confidence, communication, leadership qualities, and practical understanding of shipboard safety culture.

Mr. Hisham Sir was extremely friendly, approachable, and supportive throughout the programme. He patiently cleared doubts at any time and maintained excellent interaction with all cadets. During breaks, he would also casually interact with cadets, creating a comfortable and motivating learning environment.

The organizers also made special efforts to celebrate the birthdays of cadets occurring during the programme period. Small gifts were presented to the cadets, which created a friendly and positive atmosphere and made the cadets feel valued and appreciated.

Another valuable aspect of the programme was the presence of cadets who already had sailing experience. Interacting with them and learning about real shipboard life provided us with practical insights and valuable guidance for our future careers.

Suggestions for Improvement

The only area where improvement is recommended is regarding accommodation and food facilities.

Some cadets experienced issues related to:

• Quality of food
• Room ventilation
• Excessive heat
• Mosquitoes in accommodation rooms

Improving these facilities would further enhance the overall experience for future batches.

Conclusion

The Wavelink CadetsPlus Programme 2026 was an extremely beneficial and memorable learning experience.

The programme successfully enhanced our maritime knowledge, communication skills, teamwork, leadership abilities, safety awareness, and confidence for future onboard responsibilities.

I sincerely thank Wavelink Maritime Institute, AMET University, Fleet Ship Management, faculty members, and all officials involved for organizing and conducting this valuable programme.

Regards,
Abishek Saju