Standards Gap
The Philippines is continuing its policy to close what it judges to be substandard maritime courses following a negative assessment by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). EMSA’s audit of the country’s training facilities uncovered major deficiencies and non-compliance in maritime education and training. The clampdown is being orchestrated through the Commission on Higher Education [...] Full Story

HAVE YOUR SAY
Shiptalk is once again looking to the future with a new “Life at Sea” survey. Now is the chance to have your say… With many shipowners in financial dire straits and with pirates bring the industry to its knees, how is this impacting on seafarers? It is time to find out, and with your help Shiptalk [...] Full Story

On The Rise
The number of Filipino maritime professionals applying for licensure examinations has been on the rise for the past six years, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said. PRC Chairman Teresita Manzala said during the turnover ceremony of the newly renovated Maritime office at the PRC headquarters in Manila Thursday that the number of exam applicants for [...] Full Story

Branching Out
NYK Shipmanagement Pte Ltd (NYKSM), a member of the NYK Group, plans to open a branch in Manila in preparation for an increase in vessel management and to reinforce its management service system. This was disclosed by NYK president Yasumi Kudo during the recent 10th anniversary celebration of NYKSM in Singapore. The NYK Group operates [...] Full Story

Flag Waving
Instigated in 2000, Merchant Navy Day provides an opportunity to honour those merchant seafarers who have in many cases given their lives to the industry, as well as the chance to celebrate success and look ahead to the future of British shipping. Shipping Minister Mike Penning said: “This country has a rich and proud maritime [...] Full Story

Remembering a Profession
A group of veteran seafarers are encouraging youngsters to consider what has become an important but ‘forgotten profession’ as the country prepares to celebrate Merchant Navy Day on 3 September. Residents at the Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society, a Surrey based home which provides dedicated accommodation and care to former seafarers and their dependants, said there [...] Full Story

Loud and Proud
Alastair Evitt, president of international trade association for in-house and third-party ship-managers InterManager, and managing director of Meridian Marine Management, has been speaking out on the need for seafarers to be enabled to rediscover some self-respect.  “As an industry we have recognised that recruitment and retention of seafarers is one of the major challenges we [...] Full Story

New Centre
A state-of-the-art training centre for maritime students was officially opened on the River Clyde this week. The s6.8m Marine Skills Centre, Jetty and Pontoon creates another landmark on the river next to Albert Bridge and was opened by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Monday. The development is part of the Clyde Waterfront partnership, a 15-year scheme [...] Full Story

Cadet Challenge
As part of South Tyneside College’s 150th Anniversary Celebrations last week, the Marine School hosted its Annual Student Presentation and Competition Challenge, sponsored by the North East Branch of the Nautical Institute and Trinity House. Teams from South Tyneside College and Northumbrian Universities Royal Naval Unit based at HMS Calliope had already been through qualifying [...] Full Story

Harmonisation Calls
The Bahamas Maritime Authority’s (BMA) chairman has called for greater harmonisation in the sector, suggesting that this could lead to “future growth and innovation” for both the industry and economy overall. Ian Fair said the BMA considers Denmark an excellent model for how this nation could form a “cluster” of maritime-related government and private sector [...] Full Story