NOTHING FISHY ABOUT SEA FOOD COURSES

South Tyneside College has won a prestigious new contract from Vela International Marine of Saudi Arabia to train 100 of the companys Filipino chefs and messmen over the next two years.

(PRWEB) November 29, 2003 --The first group of seven cooks and 10 messmen has recently arrived on Tyneside and will be followed by further groups at intervals over the next two years. The cooks are studying all aspects of practical cookery over a six-week period while the messmen spend a week studying food hygiene and basic preparation along with food and drink service.

Vela Marine is an existing client of the Colleges School of Maritime Studies & Engineering but this is the first time it has an awarded a contract to the College that involves the Faculty of Creative Arts & Catering.

We were delighted to win the business having been asked to tender against several competitors," said senior lecturer Ken Tame. The fact that we already offer training for the Ships Cook Certificate was a big plus for Vela. The course weve developed for them is based on the Certificate but weve also incorporated extra subjects such as stock control, menu planning, nutrition, safety and hygiene.

Elsewhere in the Faculty, four 16-20 year olds from the Trinity House Lighthouse Service and mariners charity, have started a two-year cookery course at South Tyneside College.

They are studying for all 12 units on the standard NVQ Level 2 course in Food Preparation and Cooking and supplementing these with a further five units in subjects such as vegetarian cooking, sandwiches and cooking with pasta. The comprehensiveness of their training will result in a qualification that is equivalent to the Ships Cook Certificate, part 2.

After the first year of the course students are assessed with those considered suitable given the opportunity to study for units in food service covering all aspects of serving food and drink, including silver, plate and wine service.

This is the fifth time weve taken on trainees from Trinity House," said Ken Tame. The current pair of trainees are just coming to the end of their course and are both very hopeful of being offered employment by Trinity on one of its lightships."

Among the big differences between cooking on land and at sea is that ships cooks usually have to work in very small groups or even on their own. Specialised marine courses offered by South Tyneside College provide students with the necessary versatility.

Subjects include, for example, producing starters, main courses and sweets as well as baking and cake-making. Training is also provided in fire fighting, personal safety and sea safety which are essential requirements for all personnel serving on board ship.

ENDS
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