Seafarers Being Prepared for Demands of Maritime Industry

Director General of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, Rear Admiral Peter Brady, says his organisation is working closely with the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) to ensure that students trained as seafarers at the CMI, are adequately prepared to meet the demands of the ever advancing technological inputs within the maritime industry.
Speaking at an Open Day at the CMI, Port Royal, Kingston, on Monday (September 20) to launch Maritime Awareness Week activities, Rear Admiral Brady noted that this is consequent on major revisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), resulting from a recognition of the technological enhancements of ships and other equipment utilised in the industry.
The Director General chaired the STCW’s diplomatic conference in Manila, the Philippines in June of this year that amended this Convention.
“So, against this background, the Maritime Authority of Jamaica.works closely with our partners, the CMI, to ensure that we are ahead of the game, and to ensure our seafarers are well prepared to meet future demands of these technologically advanced ships and their equipment. We are ensuring that Jamaica is ahead.by introducing the new teachings, the new methodologies, and the new measures to be able to man these ships, as technologically advanced as they are today,” he stated.

Executive Director, Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI), Fritz Pinnock (left), inspects the formation of CMI graduates assembled in the institution’s courtyard at its Palisadoes Road campus in Kingston, on Monday (September 20), after taking the seafarers Oath of Allegiance. The event preceded an Open Day, also held at the CMI, which launched activities marking the Maritime Authority of Jamaica’s Maritime Awareness Week, between September 19 and 25, under the theme: ‘2010 – Year of the Seafarers’.

The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) observance of Maritime Awareness Week this year under the theme ‘2010 – The Year of the Seafarer’, is in recognition of the role and contribution of seafarers to the industry. Jamaica is marking the occasion from September 19 to 24.
Rear Admiral Brady said seafaring is a safe, rewarding, and exciting field. He said that there are currently between 30,000 and 35,000 vacancies for seafarers globally.
Underscoring the maritime industry’s importance to commerce, Rear Admiral Brady pointed out that 90 per cent of Jamaica’s trade is conducted by sea. While noting that the global economic depression has resulted in a seven per cent decline in maritime trade, he said this is “beginning to pick up again” and opportunities are there for seafarers.
In his remarks, Executive Director of the CMI, Fritz Pinnock, informed that the institution has, to date, trained over 700 seafarers from across the region and globally, pointing out that, currently, there are some 350 students in training.

Executive Director, Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI), Fritz Pinnock (left), presents Business Development Executive with Claro Jamaica limited, Kevin Pershad, with a certificate, in recognition of the firm’s participation as an exhibitor during the Maritime Authority of Jamaica’s Open Day at the CMI’s campus, Palisadoes Road, in Kingston, on Monday (September 20), which formed part of activities marking Maritime Awareness Week under the theme: ‘2010 – Year of the Seafarers’.

He said that there are some 1.5 million seafarers employed in various positions in the maritime industry globally, with the Philippines accounting for the largest number from a single country, with 420,000.
The CMI, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, offers certificate, diploma and degree courses in a range of disciplines, including: Logistics and Supply Chain Management; Port Management; Cruise Shipping and Marine Tourism; Security Administration and Management; and Integrated Engineering.
Monday’s Open Day featured displays mounted by some 25 entities. These included: the Maritime Authority of Jamaica; Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard and Air Wing; Kingston Wharves; Port Authority of Jamaica; Shipping Association of Jamaica; and Port Royal Marine Lab.
More than 30 students from some six schools and institutions attended the event. Earlier in the morning, some 20 trainees, who will be graduating, took the Oath of Allegiance, in a brief ceremony held in the CMI’s courtyard.