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Jerry Nagel, president and CEO of Rickmers Linie (America), has been working hard to diversify the bald and gray heads of breakbulk shipping through an infusion of youth from members of Generations X and Y. One characteristic of younger workers is that unlike many of the older generation, they're comfortable with Internet training. That's why Nagel is excited about a new e-learning program being developed by the Breakbulk Institute, a joint project of The Journal of Commerce Breakbulk Conference and Teledata Marine Solutions Ltd. Nagel chairs the steering committee for the online learning program, which he sees as an efficient, flexible way to bring industry newcomers up to speed and to provide continuing education to those already in the industry. The program's first component is a 60-hour online course in industry fundamentals - call it Breakbulk 101.

Jerry Nagel, president and CEO of Rickmers Linie (America), has been working hard to diversify the "bald and gray heads" of breakbulk shipping through an infusion of youth from members of Generations X and Y.

One characteristic of younger workers is that unlike many of the older generation, they're comfortable with Internet training. That's why Nagel is excited about a new e-learning program being developed by the Breakbulk Institute, a joint project of The Journal of Commerce Breakbulk Conference and Teledata Marine Solutions Ltd.

Nagel chairs the steering committee for the online learning program, which he sees as an efficient, flexible way to bring industry newcomers up to speed and to provide continuing education to those already in the industry.

The program's first component is a 60-hour online course in industry fundamentals - call it Breakbulk 101. Swapan Das Sarma, director of White Plains, N.Y.-based Teledata, says the plan is to get the basic course running by fall, and to build on it and add more advanced courses.

Das Sarma joined Teledata four years ago after 26 years at the Singapore Maritime Academy, the last 10 as director and dean. One of his company's online training programs is used by Maersk Line Ltd., the U.S.-flag operator of A.P. Moller-Maersk, to train ship managers.

To those of us raised on the printed word, online training is a different style of learning. Das Sarma is convinced it's a better way - and he makes a logical case.

The breakbulk online program will include video, audio, images, exams and external links that can go as far as the Internet extends. Students will view information presented on various subjects, but the real key will be the links that encourage deeper study of a subject.

In the traditional classroom, Das Sarma points out, a teacher can get away with using a 20-year-old course outline. But with interactive training that uses the Web, such a lazy approach won't fly. Online information can be updated quickly and publicly, and if someone tries to pass off outdated or inaccurate information, hundreds of people can see it immediately and point it out.

Nagel said he believes the online training program will be useful for reference or as a refresher to experienced people in the breakbulk industry. And he's convinced that the initial program for industry newcomers will be a hit.

At the JoC's Breakbulk Europe Conference last month in Antwerp, Das Sarma showed excerpts from training sessions on the fundamentals of trade and on anti-dumping regulations. While the words and photos flashed across screens overhead, Nagel studied the audience, watching their faces to gauge the reaction. He liked what he saw. "They were following the story," he said. "They were really getting into it."