Time to upgrade our Maritime College says director

Sponsored Advertisement

The country’s seafarers today celebrated the international seafarers’ day with a strong call for our 62-year-old maritime college to be upgraded to international standards.

Director of the Solomon Islands National University’s Maritime College Dr Teorae Kabure in his address said understanding that natural resources diminish over time while human resources flourish across generations, SI’s seafarers can contribute more to the economy if given the opportunity.

“So far after 62 years of existence on this very same ground, the SIMC is getting old too so we need to develop and upgrade it to reach international standards to prove this long existing potential.

“We must continue to fulfill first the need of our local maritime shipping community and then look beyond horizon for more employment opportunity,” Kabure said.

Highlight the them for this year, “Our Seafaring Future”, Kabure highlighted the importance of prioritizing safety.

“We must always place safety at the forefront of all our endeavors especially in the high-risk environment of the open sea,” he said.

Kabure stated that seafarers are the backbone of the maritime shipping.

“They ensure that our local economy and global trade flow smoothly, connecting businesses, communities and nations,” added the director.

He further highlighted that as “we celebrate seafaring professionals we also remember the challenges they face.”

The director stated that they face unpredictable weather conditions, long periods of separations from home and families and potential dangers posed by piracy, accidents, natural disasters and other mishaps.

Also, amongst the highlights today was the display of safety especially during fire on board and in the occasion a mishap happens at sea and how they should be dealt with.