Poised to ensure proper training and certification for seafarers, Starz Maritime academy, said iy is collaborating with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to incorporate the Standard Training of Watch-keeping Certificate (STWC) into its curriculum for cadets.
The Rector of the academy, Dr. Ruben Ovia, who disclosed this in a chat with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos last week, also said a lot of things are also required for them to do to ensure proper certification of seafarers, adding that the academy is working seriously towards achieving those things.
He also said that training is part of the requirements at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for seafarers, stressing that apart from the academic part of their training, the IMO also made it compulsory that cadets must go on board vessels as part of the training for seafarers.
“We are working with NIMASA to incorporate, STWC into our programme. We have been doing that but there are lots of things they required us to do, and that is what we are working on. It is part of the requirement at the International Maritime Organization in the training of the seafarers.
Because apart from the academic part of the training, IMO made it compulsory that they must go on board and as a seafarer you must undergo the mandatory training. So those are the requirements that will make you a suitable seafarer”, he explained.
Speaking on the recently-concluded seafarers’ day 2018, he expressed hope in the nation’s seafarers, adding that there is always light at the end of every tunnel.
He called for all hands to be on deck for the nation to be able to maximize the huge potentials it has as a maritime nation.
“I believe in the popular saying that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Though things may be rough now we should always be hopeful that tomorrow will be better and by the grace of God, I think we should make people understand and know the value they can derive from maritime. And whether we like it or not, maritime is the backbone of coastal cities like ours”.
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