GlobalMET India Chapter Conference

Shipping Corporation of India Maritime Training Institute

Mumbai, 17 November 2008

Building Competence for Modern Day Ships

This well attended, highly participative one-day conference filled the theatre of the Maritime Training Institute and was characterized, as so often in India, by many questions and comments from the audience.

After the welcome by Capt Kersi Deboo of the Anglo-Eastern Maritime Training Centre on behalf of the India Chapter of GlobalMET, the invocation and lighting of the lamp, the opening by Rod Short, ExecSec of GlobalMET, the Keynote Address was given by Mr S Hajara, Managing Director of the Shipping Corporation of India.

Session 1, chaired by Mr Ajoy Chatterjee, Chief Surveyor to the Government of India, featured three overseas speakers:

1. Robert North, Rear Admiral (Rtd), President, North Star Maritime Inc, who addressed ÔMARPOL violations and their implicationsÕ

2. George Chalos, Chalos & Co, Attorney at Law, New York, who addressed ÔLegal issues faced by ships visiting the USAÕ

3. Oivind Braten, Head, Maritime Management Systems, DNV, Oslo who addressed ÔHuman factorsÕ.

Session 2, chaired by Capt Naphade, former Nautical Adviser to the Government of India, featured another two overseas speakers:

1. Capt Micheal Blair, USCG, Chief, Operating and Environmental Standards, who addressed ÔSTCW revisions and their implications for training institutionsÕ

2. Capt Pradeep Chawla, Director, Quality Assurance & Training, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, Hong Kong, who addressed ÔHow can training centres help in implementation of the ISM CodeÕ.

Session 3, chaired by Capt H Subramaniam, former Principal, LBS É featured one overseas and one local speaker:

1. Capt Dr Phil Anderson, Managing Director, ConsultISM Ltd, United Kingdom, who addressed, ÔHow to make the ISM Code workÕ

2. Capt Ratnakar Desai, Certified SIRE Inspector, who addressed ÔSIRE revisionsÕ

In summing up, on behalf of GlobalMET, Rod Short expressed heartfelt thanks to the sponsors, particularly principal sponsors Pentagon Marine Services and MASSA, as well as to the Maritime Training Institute for the excellent hosting of the conference and to the members of the India Chapter of GlobalMET for their strong support.

In association with the annual general meetings, GlobalMET has hosted well attended and highly participative conferences:

• In Singapore in December 1997, in association with the Singapore Maritime Academy,which addressed the themes: The revised International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978; and Maritime Education and Training into the 21st Century;
• In Shanghai in October 1998,in association with Shanghai Maritime University, which addressed the theme: Education for Safer Ships and Cleaner Oceans;
• In Tokyo in December 1999, in association with Tokyo University of Mercantile Marine, which addressed the theme: Education for a More Efficient, Safer and Cleaner Shipping Industry: Formulating the GlobalMET Charter 2000-2010;
• In Launceston in November 2000, in association with the Australian Maritime College, which addressed the theme: Education for a More Efficient, Safer and Cleaner Shipping Industry: After the White List What next?
• In Mumbai in January 2002, in association with Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, which addressed the theme: GlobalMET in India: Progressing the Issues;
• In Manila in November 2002, in association with member institutions in the Philippines, which addressed the theme: Education for a More Efficient, Safer and Cleaner Shipping Industry: Quality in MET.
• In Vallejo , California in October 2003, in association with the California Maritime Academy, which addressed the theme: Education for a More Efficient, Safer and Cleaner Shipping Industry: Maritime English, Maritime Technology and Safety Through Security.
• In Vladivostok in September 2004, in association with the Maritime State University, which addressed the theme: Education for a More Efficient, Safer and Cleaner Shipping Industry: The Role of MET Institutions in Improving Marine Safety and Environmental Protection.
  
• In Manila in November 2005, in association with member institutions in the Philippines, which addressed the theme: Education for a More Efficient, Safer and Cleaner Shipping Industry: Quality in MET.
  
• In Singapore in October 2006, in association with the Singapore Maritime Academy, which addressed the theme: Education for a More Efficient, Safer and Cleaner Shipping Industry: Meeting Modern Needs
  
• In Kuala Lumpur in November 2007, in association with the Malaysian Maritime Academy, which addressed the theme: Maritime ManPower Chanllenges in the 21st Century
  
• In HongKong in November 2008, in association with the Annual General Meeting,a Strategic Planning WorkShop,Which Considered Developement over the Next Five years
  

In addition, with the contacts made through participation in GlobalMET, a number of members are actively liaising with one another in assisting development.