Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 18th, 2012 (SKNIS): The Department of Maritime Affairs held a brief graduation ceremony on board the MV Freewinds for local sailors who have successfully completed their basic training recently.
These sessions were designed to ensure that local sailors meet the requirements of the Standard of Training, Certification and Watch Keeping for Seafarers Convention (STCW Convention).
Captain RA Mike Napier of the MV Freewinds stated that he was proud of the 46 grandaunts as they are now certified in basic safety training. This makes a total of 63 persons who have benefited in the federation.
McClean Hobson, Director of Maritime and Civil Affairs explained that the aim of the convention was to standardize training certification and watch-keeping for sea farers globally.
“It is the minimum standard for ensuring sea farers world wide, not only in St. Kitts and Nevis, are competent to carry out their duties at sea.”
St. Kitts and Nevis is a party to the STCW Convention and as such it has an obligation through the Department of Maritime Affairs to enforce certain provisions in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“Once an inspector is inspecting foreign vessels that come to our shore, they have to ensure that the sea-farers aboard these vessels meet the standards stipulated in the STCW Convention.”
St. Kitts and Nevis is obligated to ensure that all sailors operating out of the Federation and bearing the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis internationally meet the trading requirements of STCW Convention in order to competently work at sea to avoid accidents and incidents there.
The graduates received basic safety training in fire fighting, elementary first aid, personal survival techniques, and personal safety and social responsibility. This training is intended to ensure that seafarers are aware of the hazards of working on a vessel and can respond appropriately in the case of an an emergency.
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