XN000022-1989-08-03 — Page 7

THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1989

6

TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR OPERATORS OF STEEL FISHING VESSELS

THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TO ENROL IN THE FIRST TRAINING COURSE DESIGNED TO QUALIFY FOR SEA-GOING OPERATION ON NEWLY INTRODUCED STEEL-HULL. VESSELS.

THE COURSE,

FISHERMEN FISHERMEN FISHING

THE "SEA-GOING ENDORSEMENT COURSE FOR FISHING VESSEL MASTER", IS ONE OF THE TWO TRAINING PROGRAMMES FORMULATED FOR THE FIRST TIME BY THE DEPARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MARINE DEPARTMENT TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE LOCAL FISHING FLEET.

++

HOLDERS OF LOCAL *FISHING VESSEL MASTER CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY", WITH SIX MONTHS' SEA-GOING EXPERIENCE, ARE ELIGIBLE ΤΟ ENROL, ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS.

ENROLMENT CAN BE MADE EITHER BY TELEPHONING THE DEPARTMENT'S CAPTURE FISHERIES DIVISION ON 5-520171. EXT. 25, OR BY CONTACTING LIAISON OFFICE OF THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION.

ANY

ANNOUNCING THIS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY {THURSDAY), THE DEPARTMENT'S FISHERIES OFFICER (FISHERIES TECHNOLOGY), MR JOSEPH SHAM, SAID THE MASTER COURSE, WHICH IS FREE OF CHARGE, WOULD PROVIDE 250 HOURS OF SPECIALISED TRAINING FOR A MAXIMUM OF 20 QUALIFIED FISHERMEN OVER A PERIOD OF 10 WEEKS.

"THE COURSE WILL BE RUN BY THE TRAINING SECTION OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND WILL COVER SUCH ASPECTS AS NAVIGATION, THE USE OF NAVIGATIONAL AIDS, SEAMANSHIP. VESSEL MANOEUVRING, AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES." HE SAID.

+

THE SECOND COURSE. THE "SEA-GOING ENDORSEMENT COURSE FOR FISHING VESSEL ENGINEER" WILL BE HELD SOME TIME IN OCTOBER FOR FISHERMEN HOLDING A LOCAL "FISHING VESSEL ENGINEER CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY", WITH SOME SEA-GOING EXPERIENCE.

THE ENGINEER COURSE WILL LAST FOR 125 HOURS OVER A FIVE-WEEK PERIOD AND COVER VARIOUS ASPECTS OF MARINE ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON SAFETY PRACTICES AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.

MR SHAM SAID: "BOTH COURSES ARE PRACTICAL-ORIENTED AND ARE SPECIFICALLY DEVELOPED TO SUIT THE NEED AND CAPACITY OF LOCAL FISHERMEN WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE NECESSARY LEVEL OF REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE.

"THE COURSES WILL PROVIDE TRAINEES WITH FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE USE OF SUCH MODERN NAVIGATIONAL AND FISHING EQUIPMENT AS RADAR, SATELLITE NAVIGATOR, ECHO SOUNDER AND WEATHER FACSIMILE.

"IN ADDITION. ARRANGEMENTS WILL ALSO BE MADE FOR TRAINEES ΤΟ ACQUIRE PRACTICAL TRAINING AT THE SEAMEN'S TRAINING CENTRE EMERGENCY HANDLING INCLUDING FIRE FIGHTING, LIFE-SAVING, FIRST AND SURVIVAL AT SEA.

+

ON

AID

/A SURVEYOR