XN000022-1988-02-07 — Page 7

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1988

$30M CENTRE OFFERS HIGH STANDARD OF TRAINING FOR SEAMEN

THE COMPLEX AND SUBSTANTIAL TRAINING STRUCTURES OF THE SEAMEN'S TRAINING CENTRE, WHICH DOMINATE THE WATERFRONT AT TAI LAM CHUNG, ARE BEING GIVEN FINISHING TOUCHES AND FINAL INSPECTIONS BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST GROUP OF TRAINEES EARLY IN THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.

MANAGED BY THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, THE $30 MILLION CENTRE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AT THE REQUEST OF THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE A PROPER TRAINING SYSTEM FOR LOCAL SEAFARERS.

"CREW MEMBERS OF HIGH STANDARD ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR SHIPPING INDUSTRY," SAID THE MANAGER OF THE CENTRE, CAPTAIN JACK HAWORTH.

"THEY ARE ONE OF THE PREREQUISITES FOR THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTER' IN THE EARLY 1990'S."

CAPTAIN HAWORTH HAS ALMOST FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OF RUNNING THE STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING (STCW) COURSE FOR SERVING SEAMEN AT THE COUNCIL'S TEMPORARY CENTRE AT LITTLE SAI WAN.

HE IS CONFIDENT THAT THE COMPREHENSIVE AND STRINGENT TRAINING TO BE OFFERED AT THE PERMANENT CENTRE WILL BE EQUALLY SUCCESSFUL IN ENABLING NEW ENTRANT RATINGS, AS WELL AS EXISTING SEAFARERS, TO ACQUIRE TECHNICAL SKILLS OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARD.

"WITH AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED QUALIFICATION, THE EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS OF HONG KONG SEAMEN WILL ALSO BE GREATLY ENHANCED, HE ADDED.

THE COUNCIL IS NOW INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR ENROLMENT IN PRE-SEA COURSES FOR TRAINING JUNIOR SEAMEN, ENGINE ROOM AND GENERAL PURPOSE RATINGS. THESE COURSES WILL START SOON AFTER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.

MALE HONG KONG RESIDENTS AGED BETWEEN 17 AND 34, PREFERABLY WITH A FORM THREE EDUCATION BACKGROUND, MAY APPLY FOR THESE PRE-SEA COURSES.

"IT WILL BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THESE TRAINEES ΤΟ TAKE THE 23-WEEK GENERAL PURPOSE COURSE AS IT COMBINES THE SPECIALIST PARTS OF THE TWO 16-WEEK COURSES FOR SEAMEN AND ENGINE ROOM RATINGS, CAPTAIN HAWORTH SAID.

"

"MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES

ARE AVAILABLE FOR SAILORS WITH

ALL-ROUND TRAINING."

THE TRAINING FOR NEW ENTRANTS AND RATINGS AT THE CENTRE IS FREE AND, IN ADDITION, THERE IS AN ALLOWANCE FOR NEW ENTRANTS DEFRAY PART OF THEIR TRAVELLING AND MEAL EXPENSES.

TO

/SERVING SEAFARERS