BST, Brunei Marine Cadets sign contract
By Dk Suria Rina PHA

Mr Reidar Saugstad, the Finance Director of the BSP Co Sdn Bhd, BST's Deputy Managing Director addressing the audience

The signing ceremony between Mr Reidar Saugstad and Mr Alan Chivers

Brunei Shell Tankers Sendirian Berhad (BST) and the Brunei Marine Cadets held a signing ceremony for the Marine Training Sponsorship contract, yesterday. The event took place at the Asma Hotel in Jerudong and was witnessed by Dato Paduka Awg Hj Yakub Bin Abu Bakar, the Deputy Minister of Finance who is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of BST. Dato Paduka Awg Hj Yakub was also the guest of honour at the event.

Also present as the signing ceremony were Dato Paduka Hj Hamdilah Bin Hj Abd Wahab, the Managing Director of BLNG; Awg Alias Bin Hj Mohd Yusof, the Acting Director of the Petroleum Unit; Hj Zainal Abidin Bin Hj Mohd Ali, the Deputy Managing Director of BSP; Awg Hj Ibrahim Bin Hj Md Yassin, the Acting Managing Director of Brunei Gas Carrier; Mr Hirofumi Kawabata, the General Manager of Mistubishi Corporation and Mr Alan Chiver, the Personnel Manager of Shell Ships Management Ltd.

Mr Reidar Saugstad, Finance Director of the Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP), in his capacity as BST's Deputy Managing Director in his welcoming speech said that traditionally foreigners held the job positions in BST, either as officers or crew, until a few years ago when the Board of Directors of BST approved an ambitious 'Bruneianisation' programme.

He continued to say that, "A Bruneianisation Working Group (BWG) was set up and with the tremendous support from relevant Bruneian authorities, this programme has proven to be extremely successful. Today they have 56 Bruneians as Marine Officers and cadets undergoing training and about 150 Bruneian Marine crew.

He added that if this trend continues successfully, the BST ships could potentially be run with a 100 per cent Bruneian crew manning it within 4 to 5 years. To date they have successfully recruited 56 Marine cadets including the 2003 intake. They endeavour to recruit 14 cadets this year in order to meet their target if the four ships are to be run by Bruneian Second Officers and Third Engineers by the end of 2006.

He revealed that there was an overwhelming response to BST's rigorous Marine Career Campaign and a total of about 100 applications were received for this year's intake.

He also announced that the first batch of the Bruneian Marine Cadets who were recruited in 2000 would graduate as Fourth Class Marine Engineer Officers or Third Deck Officers in September this year.

According to BST, Marine Cadets who have completed their training will hold the positions of either an Engineering Cadet or Deck Cadet. A cadet has to complete a three-year course which encompasses sea-time experience that leads to internationally recognised accreditations in order for them to be recognised as a fully qualified Marine Engineer or Deck Officer.

In addition, it is a prerequisite for the cadets to attend mandatory modular courses which corresponds to the requirements endorsed in the International Maritime Organisations' convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW 95) for Seafarers.

Currently, a total of nine young Bruneian males under the training sponsorship are undergoing their training at a prestigious maritime college, the Warsash College, in the United Kingdom.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin