ADPC sets sail for projected maritime crew demand

Abu Dhabi (WAM): Abu Dhabi Ports Company, ADPC, is setting sail to address future demand for maritime personnel in the Emirate. The company is developing its established training centre course offerings for maritime professionals and has joined with the Higher Colleges of Technology to develop and deliver new maritime training for Emirati college students. Firstly, ADPC 's state-of-the-art maritime training centre at Musaffah Port - the first one in the MENAS region to receive the Lloyd's Register Approved Training Provider status and the only IALA listed Vessel Traffic Services, VTS, training centre between Turkey and Malaysia - has expanded its VTS training courses. The training centre, which is accredited by the National Transport Authority, NTA, has added two more modules to the VTS programme and now offers a total of four specialist courses to train VTS operators, supervisors and on-the-job instructors. Secondly, yesterday, ADPC officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Higher Colleges of Technology, HCT, Abu Dhabi, which will see the parties working together to develop a partnership for academic collaboration and training. ADPC will assist with the training of HCT naval or marine students in navigational training courses covering fields such as simulated ship handling, radar navigation and general operator qualifications. In turn, the HCT will provide the necessary training and educational programmes where required. As part of the MoU, ADPC will look to assist HCT during those courses by providing access where practical to ADPC facilities and vessels to enable HCT students to take part in work experience, field trips and similar initiatives. The education programmes will lead to a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Marine Transport. The courses will include the study and examination required for the Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping Convention, allowing the students to be qualified to become watch keepers, senior officers and masters of merchant vessels. The training will also equip the U.A.E. nationals with the skills and experience needed by shore based marine industries which are particularly interested in recruiting staff with a seafaring background, for example as harbour masters, marine surveyors or consultants. The students will also study for the international safety standard; Restricted and General Operator Certificate for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, GMDSS. Today, more than 90% of global trade travels by sea. At the moment this is about 9 billion tonnes annually, but by 2030, analysts predict it could be between 19-24 billion tonnes each year. To meet this demand, the International Maritime Organisation (the United Nations body for global maritime issues) anticipates that the global fleet will need to expand by 70%. More ships means more people trained to crew those ships, more volume passing through the ports when those ships dock and more people working in ports to manage these operations. Mohammed Juma Al Shamsi, CEO, ADPC said, "Given this projected demand, ADPC is working to provide serious development opportunities for its employees, training them to become highly qualified maritime professionals, while promoting this exciting industry to the younger Emirati generation", Al Shamsi explains. "The MoU is an important step towards the national goal of empowering Emirati talent. According to industry analysts[1], over the next two decades, the greatest growth in container trade will take place between the Far East and the Middle East. With this in mind, our mission is to help build a strong U.A.E. national workforce ready to seize the many opportunities", Al Shamsi adds. Tayeb Kamali, Vice Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology said the agreement with ADPC was a further step in advancing HCT 's maritime programmes. "The Higher Colleges of Technology is proud to be developing a broad range of degree courses and training initiatives for the U.A.E.'s constantly expanding maritime industry and we look forward to the potential enhancement of these with the relevant practical experience and courses offered by the Abu Dhabi Ports Company, "he said. "The Higher Colleges is dedicated to providing its students with hands-on and work relevant programmes which are designed to meet the growing industry needs of our nation. We therefore aim to ensure that our graduates have the skills, knowledge, training and confidence to make important contributions to the U.A.E. society and their communities when they enter the workforce," Kamali added. "We look forward to working closely with the Abu Dhabi Ports Company to ascertain where our institutions can collaborate in the training and development of future leaders and experts in the U.A.E.'s vital maritime and seafaring industries," he concluded. As part of its commitment to promoting the U.A.E. ports industry to the younger generation, ADPC also has an ongoing programme of student tours. Since May 2013, ADPC has welcomed more than 450 students who were guided through Khalifa Port and the Kizad Visitor Centre. The students came from various educational institutions, including the U.A.E. University, the Institute of Management Technology and the University of Wollongong in Dubai. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395271641673.html