-Begins Week Long International Seafarer Training
An Intensive International Seafarers Training for local seamen has begun in Monrovia by the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA). The week-long training is a part of a Memorandum of Understanding entered into by NaFAA and the Regional Maritime University in Accra, Ghana, with the purpose of strengthening the capacity of Liberian Seafarers.
Delivering the official opening address, the Director General of NaFAA indicated that her institution remains committed to working with the Liberia Seamen Union with the aim of ensuring that they realize their full potential. Madam Emma Metieh-Glassco said NaFAA is aware of the challenges confronting local seamen, but assured them of her institution determination to provide the needed support to enable local seafarers achieve their dreams.
Madam Glassco further intimated that the ongoing training, which targets about one hundred local seamen across the country is in line with the government’s pro-poor agenda, as the training will enable local seamen get licensed to work on domestic and international vessels.
The ongoing training will focus on Basic fire-fighting, designated security duties and awareness (ISPS), Personal safety survival Techniques, Personal safety and social responsibility, as well as basic first aid.
For his part, the Chairman of the Board of NaFAA and Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Mogana S. Flomo, lauded the management of NaFAA for the farsightedness in reaching a conclusion with the Regional Maritime University to have some of their professors brought to Liberia for the training, as it would have cost NaFAA more money to have had the seamen sent to Accra for said training.
Dr. Flomo expressed delight in the fact that NaFAA is looking in the direction of building the human resource capacity of local seamen to provide them with ready skills for the sector. He however encouraged the participants to keep focus and take ownership of the training; else, they may just lose out on such a unique opportunity.
The ongoing training is as a result of an assessment conducted which established the pressing need to invest in the local seamen. Following the assessment, a team from NaFAA was dispatched to Accra at which time an MOU was entered into with the Regional Maritime University.
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