Maritime University partners BSM for graduate employment

By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA
Accra, April 9, GNA - The Regional Maritime University (RMU) has partnered the Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagment (BSM) to provide employment opportunities for graduates of the University.

The partnership came with the inauguration of a BSM office and a training centre to mentor RMU graduates to face the challenges in the maritime industry.

Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement is a highly integrated maritime services company and a market leader in quality, versatility and fleet size.

Professor Elvis Nyarko, the Vice Chancellor of RMU, said the company had made available over 100 ships to the West African sub-region for RMU graduates to help contribute to the mandatory shipboard training needed by the cadets to qualify to undertake the Certificate of Competency courses.

He said the strategic move by BSM was to build the future of the cadets and contribute towards the reduction of the projected global shortage of officers to the tune of 50,000 as stated in the Drewry Report, 2014.

He said with the support of organisations like BSM, RMU could build the capacity of its students to make the sub region the source of supply of international seafarers.

Prof. Nyarko said over 120 RMU graduates were on board BSM owned vessel, and were being trained to meet the highest standard in the maritime industry.

He, therefore, said the intention of BSM to give on-board training to the staff of RMU to be abreast of recent developments and practical industry practice was laudable.

He said the company had also entered into an agreement with Safe Bridge to offer an on-line course for deck officers to familiarise themselves with the electronic charts display and information systems.

He expressed the hope that the training centre would go a long way to benefit both parties in terms of training to meet up with the competencies the maritime industry required.

Mr Felix Leggewie, the Chief Operations Officer of BSM, said up to today the company had taken in 82 African cadets starting from seven in 2001 up to 30 in 2015.

He said out of the 26 cadets taken until 2013, 20 had already become officers, which was a very good result confirming the company's trust into RMU education and the quality of the cadets taken into the programme.

"We as owners will continue to support in offering the opportunities and every help necessary to overcome whatever difficulties we will face," he said.

GNA