(NEWS) IMLA/SMU co-host International Symposium on “Maritime Education and Training” Theme

June

2015

IMLA/SMU co-host International Symposium on “Maritime Education and Training” Theme

In response to the 2015 theme of IMO World Maritime Day, Maritime Education & Training (MET), the International Maritime Lecturers Association (IMLA) and Shanghai Maritime University (SMU) co- hosted an international symposium with the theme of “New Normal, New MET” in Shanghai, from 26-27 May 2015.

Some 200 representatives from throughout China and further afield gathered together with SMU lecturers and students to celebrate the MET World Maritime Day 2015 Theme which IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu, who also serves as Chancellor of the World Maritime University (WMU), had launched at WMU earlier this year.

Mr. Jin Yongxing, Honorary Chair of IMLA and Chairman of Board of SMU, and Mr. Chang Fuzhi, Deputy Director-General of Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration, made the opening addresses respectively. The meeting was chaired by WMU Associate Professor Clive Cole, the Honorary Secretary of IMLA.

Honorary IMLA Chair Jin Yongxing expressed the view that the shipping industry could not thrive without the dedication and effort of a labour force educated and trained to the appropriate international maritime standards. He noted that MET is an important component of the sustainable development of today’s shipping industry and that he had planned the symposium to highlight the importance of MET.

Deputy Director-General Chang Fuzhi pointed out that high-quality seafarers played a significant role in the aspects of ship navigation safety and prevention of marine pollution from ships, and the promotion and development of the overall level of shipping industry would be affected by the quality of MET.

Dr. Takeshi Nakazawa, WMU Professor and Secretary of International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU), Mr. Mei Dequan, the Deputy General Manager of China Shipping International Ship Management Co., Ltd., Mr. Xu Yunping, the Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Ocean Shipping Co., Ltd., Mr. Jan van der Borght, the General Representative of Antwerp Port Authority and Prof. Tomasz Tarasiuk of Gdynia Maritime University-Poland etc. respectively made keynote speeches.

Associate Professor Cole and Professor Nakazawa took part with other speakers in a competitive “seafarers in the classroom” MET activity during the symposium, together with some 50 local and foreign students. Professor Nakazawa and Associate Professor Chen Yulli of the Merchant Marine College of SMU jointly presented the prizes.

During the Symposium it was announced that IMLA had taken on the task, along with IAMU, to revise IMO Model Courses 6.09, “Training Course for Instructors” and 3.12, “Assessment, Examination and Certification of Seafarers” to be submitted to IMO’s HTW Sub-committee in October this year. A Working Group meeting was held during the second day of the Symposium.

Previously, IMLA had successfully taken on the task to revise Model Course 3.17, Maritime English that was validated by HTW2 in February but will not be available in any form until it is published; most likely in August this year.

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