RINA INVESTS IN TRAINING COLLEGE

Source: Maritime global

ITALIAN classification society Rina has invested in crew training in, it says, “a bid to help owners overcome the major challenge of manning their growing fleets”. It has put money into the new Manila-based Italian Training Academy Phils Inc which opened this week and which is intended to provide top-level training and assessment for up to 480 crew members per year.

Roberto Cazzulo, Deputy Director of the Marine Division and responsible for International Affairs for Rina says, “The biggest challenge facing shipowners today is a shortage of high-quality crew. Italian owners have been investing heavily in new ships and their fleets are growing, but they need a reliable source of high-quality manpower to crew the ships. This Italian Training Academy will complement the STCW requirements and the activities of the Italian Maritime Academies in Italy, mainly dedicated to training cadet deck and machinery officers, and training schools in the Philippines by providing top-level assessment and training to officers and ratings, ensuring they have the essential skills to work on modern international tonnage.”

Rina has invested in the Academy along with Italian shipowners’ association CONFITARMA, and Manila-based Elburg Ship Management. Initially the academy will focus on training engineer officers, using its own simulators and also the Subic-based Wartsila facility. It will then extend the programme to cover all deck, engine and electrical disciplines.

“ Rina has a lot of knowledge, and has a lot of experience in training and assessing at all levels,” explains Cazzulo. “Last year we introduced our Rules for Training and Competency Management, specifically aimed at helping maritime companies upgrade and benchmark their training. So we bring to the academy both a cash investment and the investment of our knowledge and experience. We will assess all the instructors and monitor and audit the courses, and then assess the qualified trainees following a course at the academy and a period of on-board training.”

Eitzen Chemical confirms options NORWEGIN-based Eitzen Chemical has declared an option to build two additional vessels with Jinse Shipbuilding, Korea, for US$24m per ship. The vessels are coated 13,000 dwt chemical carriers and will be delivered in 2008. This brings the series from Jinse to four vessels. Terje Askvig, Chief Executive said: "We find both the price and the delivery time very attractive for these newbuildings, which in today's market have an estimated value which is above the contract price. Strategic alternatives will be evaluated for these vessels."

Including this latest contract, the Eitzen Chemical fleet consists of 74 vessels and 32 newbuildings to be delivered before the end of 2010.