Liberia underlines commitment to seafarer wellbeing on IMO Day of the Seafarer

The Liberian Registry has underlined its commitment to protecting the welfare of seafarers on the occasion of the International Maritime Organization’s Day of the Seafarer, which this year takes ‘seafarer wellbeing’, and mental health in particular, as its theme.

Scott Bergeron, CEO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry, says, “Our seafarers are the lifeblood of our industry. Without them, shipping is nothing, and yet their commitment and efficiency is such that the industry is sometimes in danger of taking them for granted. It is therefore right that IMO should dedicate a specific day each year to recognise this remarkably dedicated workforce, and to highlight the issues they face on a daily basis.

“The Liberian Registry is dedicated to protecting the welfare of seafarers and to ensuring that the maritime industry maintains its commitment to promoting greater understanding of mental health concerns and awareness of the issues facing all onboard personnel. There are over 270,000 active seafarers who are certified by Liberia, of which nearly 100,000 are currently employed on Liberian-flagged ships. In addition, Liberia has taken a leading role in ratifying, implementing and overseeing the application of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006).

“Everything we do, from our everyday operations to the ongoing development of technical innovation, is designed with the interests of our seafarers in mind. Moreover, our MLC 2006 training programme for Liberian inspectors includes a module on seafarer welfare, developed in co-operation with The Mission to Seafarers, an organisation with which the Liberian Registry enjoys an excellent and highly productive relationship.

“In addition, The Ethiopian Maritime Training Institute (EMTI S.C), part of YCF Group, the parent organisation of LISCR, has successfully trained thousands of cadets and officers, who are now employed on vessels around the world. LISCR also manages the Liberia Maritime Training Institute (LMTI), which opened earlier this year.

“Whatever advances are made in shipping over the coming years, the maritime workforce will remain the industry’s biggest and most valuable asset. Liberia is dedicated to protecting the interests of that workforce, on IMO’s Day of the Seafarer and on every other day.”

Gerard Kenny, Technical Manager of LISCR’s offices in London, recently completed the 106km NightRider charity bike ride around London as a member of the IMO team raising funds for The Mission to Seafarers. He says, “Needless to say, I’m feeling rather fragile and a little weary today, but that’s nothing compared to what seafarers go through every day over prolonged periods at sea.”


The Liberian Registry has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive and innovative service to owners. Moreover, it has a well-deserved reputation for supporting international legislation designed to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of the shipping industry and protection of the marine environment. www.liscr.com

Ethiopian Maritime Training Institute hosts IMO delegation

Officials from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently completed a fact-finding mission to the Ethiopian Maritime Training Institute (EMTI) in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Juvenal Shiundu and William Azuh from IMO’s Technical Co-operation Division, assisted by officials from the Ethiopian Maritime Affairs Authority and from EMTI, undertook the mission as part of an effort to give effect to this year's World Maritime Day theme of Maritime Education and Training.

EMTI provides specialised training for deck, engineer and electro-technical officers for ships, in compliance with the IMO’s STCW Convention, which specifies global standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers.

A partnership between Bahir Dar University and the US-based investment firm, YCF Group, EMTI currently graduates up to 500 cadets per year, and plans soon to expand its capacity to train over 1,000 seafarers annually. After completing a rigorous training programme at the maritime academy, EMTI cadets begin their careers as junior crew members with leading shipping companies on a global basis.

The demand for Ethiopian seafarers has grown rapidly in recent years, and EMTI is the exclusive marine officer training academy in Ethiopia. During a recent visit to EMTI in Bahir Dar, the Honorable Patricia M Haslach, the US Ambassador to Ethiopia, said, “The US has an old and cherished maritime heritage, and we are pleased and excited to help foster a maritime tradition in Ethiopia as well.”

Pini Shwartz, CEO of EMTI, says, “We are greatly encouraged by the interest shown in EMTI by IMO, whose representatives acknowledged during their recent fact-finding mission the progress made by EMTI since it was set up in 2008. They also offered advice on ways to maintain - and, where possible, improve – the effectiveness of the academy, plus assistance with the likes of IMO publications and reference books, which is greatly appreciated.

“EMTI has developed rapidly in a relatively short period of time to become one of the largest quality maritime training institutes in the world, with vast potential for further growth. That growth, of course, will be achieved in line with IMO standards and ideals.”

The Ethiopian Maritime Training Institute is a private company established to provide professional maritime training for Ethiopian engineering graduates. Through its elite maritime training programme, EMTI has established superior standards for selecting and training its cadets to become world-class marine engineers. It is as subsidiary operation of the YCF Group which, through its complementary entities, has developed an exhaustive range of regulatory compliance and training services

www.emticorp.com

EMTI selected as finalist for Lloyd’s List training award

The Ethiopian Maritime Training Institute (EMTI) has been confirmed as a finalist for the Lloyd’s List 2015 Global Training Award. The award goes to a company or institution which can demonstrate having made a contribution towards improving training standards.

EMTI currently graduates up to 500 cadets per year, and plans soon to expand its capacity to train over 1,000 seafarers annually, ranging from ratings to engine and deck officers. After completing a rigorous training programme at the maritime academy, EMTI cadets begin their careers as junior crew members with leading shipping companies on a global basis.

EMTI is a partnership between Bahir Dar University and the US-based investment firm, YCF Group. The demand for Ethiopian seafarers has grown rapidly in recent years, and EMTI is the exclusive marine officer training academy in Ethiopia. During a recent visit to EMTI in Bahir Dar, the Honorable Patricia M Haslach, the US Ambassador to Ethiopia, said, “The US has an old and cherished maritime heritage, and we are pleased and excited to help foster a maritime tradition in Ethiopia as well.”

Pini Shwartz, CEO of EMTI, says, “Being nominated for the Lloyd’s List training award is fitting recognition of the enormous strides made by EMTI in a short space of time, to become one of the largest quality maritime training institutes in the world, with vast potential for further growth.”

The Ethiopian Maritime Training Institute is a private company established to provide professional maritime training for Ethiopian engineering graduates. Through its elite maritime training programme, EMTI has established superior standards for selecting and training its cadets to become world-class marine engineers and electrical technical engineers. It is as subsidiary operation of the YCF Group which, through its complementary entities, has developed an exhaustive range of regulatory compliance and training services.

www.emticorp.com

EMTI welcomes new US C1/D visa initiative for Ethiopian seafarers

The Ethiopian Maritime Training Institute (EMTI) has welcomed an initiative by the United States that will provide Ethiopian seafarers with a new class of C1/D visas. The new C1/D visas issued to Ethiopian crewmembers will now be valid for two years.

Effective January 2015, the US extended the term period of C1/D visas for Ethiopian nationals, primarily for the purpose of facilitating transit to and from the US by the crews of merchant ships. During a recent visit to EMTI in Bahir Dar, the US Ambassador to Ethiopia, Patricia M Haslach, said, “The US has an old and cherished maritime heritage, and we are pleased and excited to help foster a maritime tradition in Ethiopia as well.” She added that Ethiopia has a growing number of good English speakers with solid technical skills who can ‘export’ their talents overseas.

The demand for Ethiopian seafarers has grown rapidly in recent years. As the exclusive marine officer training academy in Ethiopia, EMTI has graduated over 800 cadets to date. The academy is a partnership between Bahir Dar University and the US-based investment firm, YCF Group.

EMTI is one of the largest maritime training institutes in the world. It currently graduates approximately 500 cadets per year, and plans soon to expand its training programme to include over 1,000 seafarers annually, ranging from ratings to engine and deck officers. After completing a rigorous training programme at the maritime academy, EMTI cadets begin their careers as junior crew members with leading shipping companies on a global basis.

Pini Shwartz, CEO of EMTI, says, “The establishment of the C1/D visa scheme in Ethiopia is a great testament to the growing demand and success of Ethiopian seafarers. It reflects the US government’s understanding that Ethiopians will continue to grow as an integral element in the shipping industry. More and more Ethiopian seafarers are sailing to and from US ports, and the US government recognises that it must help trading companies with the logistical requirements of their crewing.”

Further information regarding the new C1/D visa scheme can be found on the United States Department of State website: http://ethiopia.usembassy.gov/pr_043.html