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

Moore Stephens welcomes UK tonnage tax training initiative

Moore Stephens welcomes UK tonnage tax training initiative

International accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens has welcomed an initiative by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) which it says will encourage the training of ratings.

The DfT is to pilot a change to the tonnage tax training commitment which will allow three ratings to be trained in place of one officer-cadet. It will gather evidence regarding this proposed change with a view to making it permanent. The intention is that the pilot scheme will start in October 2015, but this is subject to the DfT receiving regulatory clearance in time.

Under the existing rules, the commitment is to train one ‘UK cadet’ per year for every fifteen officer posts on the safe manning certificates for all vessels in the tonnage tax regime. In addition, companies must continue to train recruits for the previous two years, so that once a company has been in tonnage tax for three years it will be training three UK cadets for every fifteen officer posts. A ‘UK cadet’ must be (i) a national of an EEA state, or a British citizen from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, and (ii) ordinarily resident in the UK. In addition, under the current rules for ratings, companies must review annually the feasibility of adopting each of the ratings’ employment and development options agreed by the tripartite Ratings Task Force.

Moore Stephens tax partner Sue Bill says, “The DfT initiative is a positive development. It should ensure that the UK training commitment is more flexible, and encourage the training of ratings.”

Moore Stephens LLP is noted for a number of industry specialisations and is widely acknowledged as a leading shipping and insurance adviser. Moore Stephens LLP is a member firm of Moore Stephens International Limited, one of the world's leading accounting and consulting associations, with 667 offices of independent member firms in 105 countries, employing 27,081 people and generating revenues in 2013 of $2.7 billion. www.moorestephens.co.uk


For more information:
Sue Bill
Moore Stephens LLP
Tel: +44 (0)20 7334 9191
sue.bill@moorestephens.com