Engineering College, Megamas Sign Deal For Self-Reliant Maritime Training
By Lyna Mohammad

Bandar Seri Begawan - The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Megamas Training Company Sdn Bhd and Jefri Bolkiah College of Engineering will pave the way for the nation's aspiration of becoming self-reliant in the provision of IMO accredited Maritime Training.

This was disclosed by Mr Peter Lammiman, Training Manager of Megamas, at the signing ceremony held at Seameo Voctech in Gadong yesterday. The ceremony was officiated by Pg Dato Paduka Hj Awg Abu Bakar Pg Seri Indera Pg Hj Ismail, Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office.

Signing on behalf of the college was Awg Ibrahim Hj Abd Rahman, the Principal, while Megamas was represented by Khadijah Mohammad, its Managing Director.

The partnership between Megamas and the college started to take shape in 2000 with the establishment of the Maritime Task chaired by the Permanent Secretary of Communications, Mr Lammiman said.

The first MoU was signed in September 2002 and covered mandatory Pre-Sea training courses. Since then, the maritime training has been slowly gathering pace.

The engineering college and Megamas have jointly provided training to a total of 111 participants with the vast majority being locals, mainly from Brunei Shell Tankers (BST) and Brunei Shell Petroleum marine contractors.

Pre-Sea Training includes courses on Personnel Safety and Social Responsibility, Basic Fire Fighting and Fire Prevention, Elementary First Aid and Personnel Survival Tecimiques.

In order to obtain the next rank, trainees are required to demonstrate additional knowledge and skills by attending and successfully completing additional mandatory STCW training courses known as Post Sea, namely Advanced Fire Fighting, Medical Care Onboard and Proficiency in Survival Craft.

Training for these three Post Sea courses were outlined in the second MoU that was signed yesterday. Once completed, the young seafarers will step up a rank and progress within Brunei's maritime industry.

The signing of the second MoU signifies the strengthening and deepening relationship between the public and private sector in meeting the requirements of the rigorous IMO maritime standards.

The second MoU will require both organisations to make significant financial investments to construct new training facilities and obtain new equipment.

Subject to approval by the Brunei Marine Department, Megamas will supply all personnel and associated equipment for the Advance Fire Fighting course.

For the Proficiency in Survival Craft it was agreed that Megamas Training Company will construct and maintain a riverside jetty and associated facilities suitable for the installation of a lifeboat as used by the maritime industry.

The Engineering College, meanwhile, will provide and maintain a lifeboat and associated launching equipment as used in the maritime industry. As for the Medical Care Onboard course, it was agreed that Megamas will provide the venue, all associated equipment and administration support while the engineering college will, via the relevant government department, provide a suitably qualified course instructor to develop and deliver the course.

Megamas was established in 1989 as a limited company that provides Health Safety Environmental and Emergency Response Training primarily to the oil and gas industry, with training facilities in Kuala Belait riverside close to the Seria Bypass.

Since then, it has grown to become Brunei's leading training provider of health safety and environmental services delivering a wide range of training courses and providing consultancy services to all industries in the Sultanate. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News