THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1985
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HK-TRAINED SEAMEN GET PANAMA EXEMPTION
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EXEMPTION FROM CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION IS TO BE GRANTED BY THE PANAMANIAN AUTHORITIES TO LOCAL RATINGS WHO HAVE COMPLETED TRAINING. AT THE SEAMEN'S TRAINING TEMPORARY CENTRE OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
MR FRANK CHAO, CHAIRMAN OF THE MERCHANT NAVY TRAINING BOARD, SAID THAT THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA WOULD FORMALLY APPROVE THE TRAINING OFFERED AT THE CENTRE.
RATINGS WHO HAD COMPLETED THE FULL STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING+ TRAINING COURSE THERE WOULD JE EXEMPTED FROM THE PANAMANIAN CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION AND WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY QUALIFIED TO SERVE ON SHIPS FLYING THE PANAMANIAN FLAG, HE ADDED.
DR HUGO TORRIJOS, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE CONSULAR AND SHIPPING AFFAIRS IN PANAMA, WHO WAS ACCOMPANIED BY MR CHAO ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE CENTRE THIS MORNING (THURSDAY) SAID THAT HE WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE TRAINING FACILITIES AND COURSES OFFERED AT THE CENTRE.
THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA WAS SETTING UP AN EXAMINATION SYSTEM TO IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF CREWS MANNING THE PANAMANIAN-REGISTERED FLEET.
DR TORRIJOS SAID THAT PANAMA WOULD ALSO BECOME A SIGNATORY STATE TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING FOR SEAFARERS 1978 (STCW).
LIKEWISE, THE PANAMANIAN EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS ALSO HAD TO BE EXTENDED TO COMPLY WITH THE STCW.
DR TORRIJOS IS VISITING VARIOUS TRAINING CENTRES AROUND THE WORLD TO ASSESS THEIR STANDARD WITH A VIEW TO APPROVING THE TRAINING OF THOSE CENTRES WHICH CAN MEET THEIR EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS.
HE ALSO HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH LOCAL SHIPOWNERS REGARDING THE NEW PANAMANIAN CERTIFICATION SCHEME AND ON MARITIME AFFAIRS GENERALLY.
THE SEAMEN'S TRAINING TEMPORARY CENTRE, SITUATED IN LITTLE SAI WAN, CHAI WAN, WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO HONG KONG SEAMEN TO MEET STCW STANDARDS, TO ENABLE THEM TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY CERTIFICATES AND IMPROVE THEIR EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS.
THE CENTRE CAN TURN OUT ABOUT 1 900 TRAINED RATINGS EVERY
YEAR.
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