FOR THE FIRST time in many years, PNG has a new sea training school aimed at filling an important gap in the maritime industry.

It’s a small start but the country’s first private sea training school, the Pacific Maritime Training College, managed by former professional mariners, has a vision of training educated men and women as skilled ratings to serve PNG’s shipping industry.

The PMTC management believes in learning through application and requires its seafarer trainees to apply what they learn in the classroom at sea, in whatever capacities they may be employed.

PMTC puts special emphasis on ship safety and course materials are designed to instil in students an understanding of personal safety, discipline and social responsibility as seafarers.

The College, founded last year, is recognised as a national undergraduate and graduate sea training school. It offers programs designed to help mariners advance from Ordinary Seafarer to Bosun or Assistant Engineer, working on board vessels of unlimited tonnage trading in PNG coastal waters.

As Director of Training and Master Trainer, I work under the college principal (a former merchant shipping master mariner) to create a positive learning environment.

I see a very big future for the country’s first private maritime training institution and I’m excited about including other intermediate and advanced course in the next 12 - 24 months.

Many the students who have already passed through the school have found jobs on board vessels, putting to good use the training they received at PMTC. We are now conducting our third training course for this year.

All courses are conducted in accordance with professional requirements of the Merchant Shipping Act regulations and involve both classroom and practical sessions.

In future, PMTC plans to have professional trainers from recognised international maritime schools to conduct specially designed professional short course programs.

In addition, plans are underway to work closely with the Pacific Marine Crewing Agency to do job placements not only for seaman graduates from the school, but for other seafarers seeking shipboard employment opportunities.

Business is booming in PNG, especially with the LNG project, and the need for more seamen will increase with time. The expanding shipping business and other activities in PNG’s petroleum and mineral sectors will see many vessels wanting to employ trained seafarers.

The PMTC is self-funded but we are confident the government will support the school’s vision to provide trained seafarers required for PNG’s shipping business, and help grow a strong economy.

The sky is the limit and the PMTC plans to expand by running more relevant industry-related courses as well as increasing its trainer staff within the next 24 months.