Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB)
Bringing cadet training records into the digital age
SwiftTrack has worked with the Merchant Navy Training Board to move cadet training records from paper books to a digital platform built for life at sea.
1The challenge
Part of the UK Chamber of Shipping, MNTB plays a central role in developing seafarer education and training. Its Training Record Books help cadets document the practical experience and competence they develop during their training.
Moving these records online required a system that could support structured assessment, connect cadets with the people overseeing their development, and remain usable when an internet connection was unavailable.
2The solution
Through a longstanding development partnership and extensive trials, SwiftTrack worked closely with MNTB to develop the electronic Training Record Book, or eTRB.
Cadets can record training activities, gather photographic and video evidence, and keep supporting documents together. Assessors can review work and sign off tasks, while training companies gain clearer visibility of progress and where additional support may be needed.
Crucially, training does not have to stop when connectivity drops. Cadets can continue recording activities and obtaining sign-offs offline on their mobile devices, then synchronise their records when a stable connection becomes available.
Approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the eTRB began replacing paper records for new cadets on the relevant training routes in the 2025/26 academic year.
The outcomes
- Digital training records: Training activities, evidence and supporting documents brought together in one accessible record.
- Continuity at sea: Offline recording and sign-off support training on vessels with limited or intermittent connectivity.
- Clearer oversight: Training companies and assessors can review synchronised records remotely and identify where cadets need support.
- Consistent assessment: Defined review and sign-off workflows provide a structured record of progress and achievement.
- Growing adoption: Approaching 1,000 cadets and nearly 3,000 shipboard training officers using the platform.
Looking ahead
The partnership is already supporting maritime training at scale, with many more seafarers set to benefit as the project grows in the coming years.
