(NEWS) MET Field Study to Portugal, 2014

July

2014

MET Field Study to Portugal, 2014

A group of eighteen students in the Maritime Education and Training (MET) specialization traveled to Lisbon, Portugal for a field study from 22-25 June. Accompanied by WMU Lecturer, Momoko Kitada, the focus of the field study was a visit to the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) which provides technical assistance to the European Commission (EC) and EU member states.

This was the second annual field study to EMSA by MET students to learn about the agency’s inspection methodology, particularly MET systems aimed at ensuring seafarers' qualifications meet the required standards of the STCW Convention. WMU Alumnus, Dr. Jaime Veiga (M.Sc. MSA(N) 1993), Senior Project Officer for Training of Seafarers Safety Assessment & Inspections at EMSA, addressed the group and introduced his team during the two-day visit. Intensive lectures and the opportunity to participate in a variety of discussions throughout the field study served to deepen the students’ understanding about the European approach to MET matters. The group also visited EMSA's Maritime Support Services to learn how they provide vessel traffic monitoring services to EU Member states, and combine that with information from the EMSA managed systems.

Additional visits included the Escola Superior Náutica Infante D.Henrique where Professor Melany Martins Saramago explained the college’s MET system and provided a tour of their various premises including the simulation rooms. The group also had the opportunity to visit the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Portugal and receive a brief on their operations and monitoring systems. The program concluded with a visit to the Lisbon port terminal de Contentores de Santa Apolonia (TCSA) where the students had the opportunity to pose questions related to port operations.

The program concluded with a visit to SOTAGUS S.A. - one of the Lisbon container terminals, where the students had the opportunity to pose questions related to port operations. WMU Alumnus, Pedro Galveia (M.Sc. PM 2012) and his colleagues, Alexandre Gonçalves (General Operations Director - Sotagus and Liscont) and Rui Martins (Operations Director - Sotagus), led a tour of port facilities.

To learn more about EMSA, click here.

To learn about SOTAGUS S.A. - Terminal de Contentores de Santa Apolonia (TCSA) click here.

To learn about the Escola Superior Náutica Infante D.Henrique, click here.

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