Two bodies sign pact on training in marine dredging techniques

The Regional Maritime University (RMU) in Ghana has signed a training enhancement agreement with Dredging International Services Nigeria (DISN).

The agreement is expected to facilitate cooperation between the two entities, particularly in the areas of education and training, consultancy and development in international marine dredging techniques and engineering.

The Vice Chancellor of the RMU, Professor Elvis Nyarko, who signed on behalf of the school, said he was optimistic that the collaboration would expedite the introduction of new graduate and post-graduate courses in dredging and advanced dredging in the university for the benefit of the West African Sub-region.

Career development 

Prof. Nyarko said the partnership would offer students of the university the opportunity to acquire sea service training as part of their career development.

“I am particularly enthused that this collaboration would offer opportunities to RMU staff and students to utilise the facilities of Dredging Engineering and Management Group Engineering (DEME) Group of which Dredging International Nigeria is a member, for training,” he said.

Prof. Nyarko said Dredging International Nigeria would offer a maximum of eight crew traineeships on ongoing projects in the Sub-region on a yearly basis.

He said the organisation was expected to provide the students with the requisite ship board training after graduation to facilitate the progress for international certification.

“DEME’s initiative to train cadets will contribute to the reduction of the projected global shortage of 50,000 marine officers as stated in the Drewry report of 2014,” he added.

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Prof. Nyarko said he was of the view that seafaring was a credible solution to poverty alleviation in the sub-region if all stakeholders helped in the capacity building to make the sub-region a source of supply to seafarers.

He expressed gratitude to DEME for getting the maritime administration of Belgium to recognise the certificate of competency issued by the Ghana Maritime Authority.

For his part, the Resident Manager for DEME in West Africa,  Mr Dimitri Carliez, who initialed for DISN, assured the RMU of their continued cooperation.

He said the company which undertook the Ada coastal protection project in Ghana and  had embarked on similar projects worldwide had the facilities and personnel to assist the RMU to train cadets of international standard.

Writer’s email: doreen.andoh@graphic.com.gh