THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1954
31
CENTRE PRAISED FOR SEAMEN TRAINING
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THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION (IMO), MR C.P. SRIVASTAVA, TODAY COMMENDED THE SEAMEN'S TRAINING TEMPORARY CENTRE OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL (VTC) AT LITTLE SAI WAN FOR THE HIGH STANDARD OF TRAINING IT OFFERED TO LOCAL SEAMEN.
MR SRIVASTAVA WAS PAYING AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE CENTRE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THIS MORNING, ACCOMPANIED BY MR MORRIS MORGAN OF THE VTC, AND MR FRANK CHAO, CHAIRMAN OF THE MERCHANT NAVY TRAINING BOARD.
HE SAID HE WAS IMPRESSED BY THE EFFICIENT RUNNING OF THE COURSES, AND THE HIGH QUALITY OF TRAINING STAFF AND FACILITIES AT THE CENTRE.
HE IS VISITING HONG KONG TO LOOK OVER FACILITIES AVAILABLE LOCALLY, SO AS TO ENABLE HONG KONG SEAMEN TO MEET REQUIREMENTS OF THE IMO'S CONVENTION OF STANDARD OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING FOR SEAFARERS, 1978 (STCW).
THE CONVENTION, MAKES IT MANDATORY FOR WATCHKEEPING RATINGS TO OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE QUALIFYING THEM TO TAKE UP NAVIGATIONAL AND ENGINE ROOM WATCHKEEPING DUTIES ON BOARD SHIP.
+SINCE THE OPENING OF THE CENTRE IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, ABOUT 500 SEAMEN HAVE COMPLETED THE SIX-WEEK TRAINING COURSE AND OBTAINED THE NECESSARY CERTIFICATES TO ENABLE THEM TO CONTINUE IN THEIR EMPLOYMENT, + MR MORGAN SAID.
MR SRIVASTAVA SAID THAT THE IMO WOULD SUPPORT THE VTC'S PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT SEAMEN'S TRAINING CENTRE IN HONG KONG, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ITS ROLE AS A MAJOR SHIPPING OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT CENTRE IN THE WORLD.
ESTABLISHED IN 1958, THE IMO IS WELL ESTABLISHED AS A WORLL FORUM FOR TECHNICAL MATTERS CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF SHIPPING AND THE PREVENTION OF MARINE POLLUTION FROM SHIPS. ITS HEADQUARTERS ARE IN LONDON.