India’s Merchant Navy Welfare Board Expands Greek Cooperation
The Merchant Navy Welfare Board (India) has signed an agreement with the Global Seafarers Organisation as part of its efforts to expand its presence across global ports.And as part of the Board’s initiative to appoint International Coordinators to oversee the welfare of Indian seafarers across global ports, Dr. N. Reuben Paul meet with the Indian Ambassador Shri Rudrendra Tandon at the Indian Embassy in Athens, Greece.They discussed the appointment of Board representatives in Greece and European ports…
Capsized Tug Raises Pilot Training Concerns
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released its report into the girting and capsize of tug Biter with the loss of two lives while assisting passenger vessel Hebridean Princess off Greenock, Scotland.At about 1527 on 24 February 2023, the twin screw conventional tug Biter girted and capsized while attached to the stern of the passenger vessel Hebridean Princess, which was making its approach to James Watt Dock.Girting occurs when high athwartships towing forces…
Babcock and the Polish Naval Academy Enter New Academic Partnership
Defence company Babcock International Group and the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia are set to collaborate on a new program of professional internships following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Cooperation Agreement.This summer, two Naval Academy students will take part in a six-week internship in Gdynia. During this time, they will work alongside Babcock employees to develop their skills and understanding of the marine industry. They will also have the opportunity to visit Babcock’s Rosyth operations and learn more about the international business.Ewa Kittel-Prejs…
Wärtsilä Simulators to Support Singapore's Wavelink Maritime Institute
Wärtsilä has supplied its new dual-fuel engine simulator technology for Wavelink Maritime Institute (WMI), the maritime training arm of the Singapore Maritime Officer’s Union (SMOU).The navigational and technological simulators are a central feature of the recently-inaugurated simulation suite at WMI, and the technology is specifically designed to train seafarers in the latest efficiency concepts and prepare them for operating with the next generation of marine fuels.The dual…
European Shipowners and Maritime Union Launch Digital Initiative
The European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF) have launched the ‘Seafarers Go Digital’ initiative.‘Seafarers Go Digital’ is a mutual commitment of ECSA and ETF seeking to identify and address the challenges of digitalization for shipping and seafarers.The initiative recognizes the need to adapt international regulations, training programs and operational practices so that digital technologies are embraced while the employment rights and well-being of seafarers are safeguarded.
IMO Technical Cooperation Committee Advances Capacity Development Strategy
The Technical Cooperation Committee held its 74th session at IMO Headquarters in London from Junw 24 to 28 and made progress on the IMO Capacity-Development Strategy for providing technical support for Member States. The Committee approved a new title (IMO Capacity-Development Strategy) and structure for the document. The draft revised comprehensive strategy combines the existing Capacity-Building Decade 2021-2030 Strategy, with both the strategy for the long-term financing of…
PIL Launches Employee Training Academy
Pacific International Lines (PIL) has launched its learning and development center of excellence, the PIL Academy, to provide training in maritime and transport logistics for all its employees.The academy aims to strengthen workforce capabilities and future proof careers. It will collaborate with organizations and technology partners to develop a holistic curriculum with accredited courses that will benefit the company and industry.As the 12th largest shipping carrier in the world and Southeast Asia’s largest homegrown liner…
The OCEAN Project Releases Free Navigation Training Videos
The Operator-Centred Enhancement of Awareness in Navigation Project, known as OCEAN Project, in collaboration with The Nautical Institute, has released a series of seven free training videos that address evolving gaps in navigational awareness and maritime safety.The OCEAN Project is an initiative funded by the European Union, focused on augmenting navigator’s capabilities to improve safety, reduce incidents and mitigate whale strikes.The project consortium comprises 13 members from seven European countries: Norway…
SMM 2024 Exhibition Halls Already Nearly Fully Booked
The SMM 2024 trade show will run from September 3-6 this year, and organizers are expecting more visitors and exhibitors than last time; the exhibition halls are nearly fully booked.“We are expecting more than 2,000 international exhibitors from 70 nations,” says Claus Ulrich Selbach, Business Unit Director Maritime and Technology Fairs & Exhibitions at Hamburg Messe und Congress. “We are overwhelmed by the response. We are actually setting-up an additional hall to accommodate all requests.
Wärtsilä Delivers Simulator to Sharjah Maritime Academy
Wärtsilä has supplied its latest simulator technology to the prestigious Sharjah Maritime Academy located in Khorfakkan, United Arab Emirates.The comprehensive suite of navigation, engineering, communications and Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) simulators includes full mission, part task and classroom trainers for all levels of training and research, as well as modelling and content creation tools to enable the highly skilled maritime faculty team to offer a complete range of services…
Woodside Preserves Place for Australian Seafarers
Woodside Energy has reached agreement with three Australian maritime unions on the Australian crewing of an LNG vessel.The agreement with the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union – Maritime Union of Australia Division; the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers; and the Australian Maritime Officers Union preserves a role for Australian-resident seafarers in the maritime industry delivering LNG to customers across Asia.The agreement will support employment of around 70 Australian-resident seafarers on an LNG carrier within Woodside’s chartered fleet.
Maritime Just Transition Task Force Plans Seafarer Skills Update
A new training project will prepare seafarers for zero or near-zero emission ships, helping the global shipping industry decarbonize and ensure a just transition for seafarers.Research commissioned by the Maritime Just Transition Task Force identified that 800,000 seafarers may require additional training by the mid-2030s to operate vessels run on zero or near zero emission fuels.The training framework, funded through the IMO and Lloyd’s Register Foundation, will equip seafarers with skills in decarbonization…
NYK-TDG Maritime Academy Holds Ceremony for 96 Graduates
The NYK-TDG Maritime Academy (NTMA), a merchant marine academy jointly operated by NYK and the Transnational Diversified Group (TDG) near Manila, Philippines, held a commencement ceremony for 96 students, the academy’s 12th batch of graduates.In his congratulatory speech, NYK President Takaya Soga said, "NYK Line, in its 138 years of existence, has survived countless crises and adversities. I believe that your academy has prepared you to face the world outside its halls because you experienced the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.
KR Launches eXtended Reality Ship Familiarization Solution
Korean Register (KR) has launched KR-Real360, a 360-degree XR (eXtended Reality)-based ship education and training program.KR-Real360 has been developed to provide users with the educational information necessary for ship operation and maintenance using the latest XR technology. Users can effortlessly locate educational resources, such as operation manuals, survey data, and checklists, available in diverse formats including images, text, PDFs, and videos within the ship's virtual reality environment…
Captain McManus Preps to Take the Helm of Empire State VII
Captain Morgan McManus will serve as the Ship’s Master on the Empire State VII, the first in a series of five National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV), which at press time was getting its post-sea trial finishing touches at Philly Shipyard. The project to design, build and deliver the NSMV series is one of the most exciting shipbuilding programs in the U.S. – a government shipbuilding project leveraging commercial shipbuilding efficiencies. For insights, we visited with Captain McManus to discuss the ship, it’s technology suite and its role in helping to educate a new generation of U.S.
Training Issues Highlighted in LPG Carrier Engine Room Fire
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its accident investigation report into the fatal engine room fire on board Moritz Schulte on August 4, 2020, citing training issues.On 4 August 2020, a fire broke out in the engine room of the liquefied petroleum gas/ethylene carrier Moritz Schulte when the recently promoted third engineer opened an auxiliary engine’s pressurised fuel filter allowing marine gas oil to spray onto an adjacent auxiliary engine’s hot…
Interim Report: Trainee Died After Being Trapped by Steel Plates
Germany’s Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation (BSU) has published the Interim Investigation Report into the fatal accident on board the bulk carrier Peter Oldendorff on August 3, 2022.The fatal accident occurred when the vessels was moored for cargo operations at a berth in the port of Mukran, Germany. A crewmember (fitter-trainee) was to perform welding works in the steering gear room. This required the removal of a plate from a stack stored vertically in a corner of the steering gear room so a piece could be cut out.The stack was secured against falling over by means of a cross strut locked by a screw connection. Due to the dimensions of the plates forming the stack (dimensions of the plates approximately 300cm x 130cm x 1cm…
Keel Laid for Young Endeavour II
Construction of Young Endeavour II has officially commenced at the Birdon shipyard in Port Macquarie, Australia.The Australian Commonwealth Government has ordered the vessel to replace the brigantine Sail Training Ship (STS) Young Endeavour. This vessel is now 35 years old and has been delivering sail training voyages in Australia since 1988.The new sail training ship, to be built over the next three years, will be a barquentine rig, with square sails rigged on the foremast and fore-and-aft sails rigged on the fore…
Record Number of Women Admitted to Danish Maritime Training
The number of female students admitted to Danish maritime education programs has increased by 67%.Out of the 860 prospective students, 50 are women. Last year, that number was only 30.Anne Windfeldt Trolle, director of labor market, recruitment and training at Danske Rederier (Danish Shipping), says: "We are working hard to attract and retain more women in the industry, which is why I am incredibly happy to hear that we now see a record number of women who want a career at sea."Including women employed on the Danish ferries…
Rei Misa Wins 2023 Lüddeke Prize
The Nautical Institute (NI) has announced Rei Misa as the winner of its 2023 Lüddeke Prize.The Lüddeke awards were made possible by a generous legacy endowment from the estate of Captain Christof Lüddeke. The prize recognises an exceptional maritime student – many previous winners have gone on to become leading practitioners in their field with some becoming President of The Nautical Institute.Misa already has wide-ranging maritime experience having worked as a Deck Cadet, Marine…
IBIA and Green Marine to Deliver Methanol Bunkering Training
The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) and methanol consulting firm Green Marine have signed a cooperation agreement to develop a methanol bunkering training program, with support from the Methanol Institute.The cooperation agreement aims to ensure bunker tanker crews and bunker surveyors are competent and ready for methanol bunkering on a larger scale. The plan is to commence the training in Singapore first and expanding globally in 2024.“Through strategic training and partnerships…
MMA Honors Thomas B. Crowley, Jr.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) has honored Thomas B. Crowley, Jr., CEO and Chairman of the Crowley Corporation, as Person of the Year.The Academy has an established tradition of honoring a civilian or military leader with a distinguished career of excellence, innovation, and service to the maritime industries and other related industries with the Emery Rice Medal, named for an 1897 Academy graduate and WWI hero. Captain Rice was twice recognized by President Theodore Roosevelt for his maritime skill and bravery.Crowley has been at the helm of the privately-held…
Japan: MOL, MOLMEC to Launch More Offshore Wind Training Courses as ClassNK Approval Granted
Japanese firms Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and MOL Marine & Engineering Co (MOLMEC) have been granted basic approval from ClassNK for two new training courses related to offshore wind power generation. The courses, for power cable laying and anchor handling training, use Dynamic Positioning (DP) simulator, which is owned by MOL and MOLMEC,They are currently being prepared for launch - expected by June 2023, and will be the first such courses offered in Japan.MOL and MOLMEC installed the DP simulator on the lobby floor of MOL's Head Office in June 2022…