Maritime Academy launched in Larnaca

A Maritime Academy opens its doors in Larnaca from September 2015 onwards where students from Cyprus and abroad will be able to follow English language courses such as Shipping & Logistics Management, Maritime Transport, Marine Engineering and Marine Electrical Technology.

The agreement for the Academy`s establishment was signed on Saturday, in Larnaca, between the University of Nicosia, the Arab Academy of Sciences, Technology and Maritime Transport and the Eastern Mediterranean Institute of Maritime Affairs, with the support of Intercollege Larnaca, at the premises where the new Academy will operate.

Addressing the event Transport Minister Marios Demetriades said the signature “marks an important milestone in our roadmap towards what has been the vision for the last twenty years.”

“In the last decade the shipping industry has on several occasions warned against an impending shortage of qualified labour on board CY-REGION-flagged ships,” he said, adding that “with the loss of the national maritime training systems the amount of active CY-REGION seafarers continuously reduced to today’s alarming low levels in the region.”

“The availability of skilled human resources is at the very core of economic growth and employment in the sector as more and more of maritime activities become `knowledge dependent`”, he said.

“Therefore, access to high quality maritime education and training should be on top of the national agendas of all maritime nations, ” the minister said.

According to Demetriades in Cyprus, maritime education is non-existent although Cyprus is one of the largest maritime clusters worldwide. Universities were only established in Cyprus during the last two decades and maritime technology and transportation studies need to be also integrated in their programmes, he added.
“Maritime education and training should be designed to provide potential recruits with skills, which are of the highest quality, and which can provide multiple employment opportunities,” he stressed.

Defence Minister Christoforos Fokaides said that launching the academy was “an achievement that is indicative of the long standing ties of friendship, trust and mutual respect that Cyprus and Egypt share.”

An achievement, he added, “that reflects the high importance that both our countries attach to the promotion of stability, development and prosperity in our region of Eastern Mediterranean.”

Referring to hydrocarbon reserves and new economic prospects, he said they illustrated the need for coordinated action to develop capabilities in the field of maritime security. “In this context maritime education and training is of outmost importance,” Fokaides said.

He expressed his conviction that “the establishment of a Maritime Academy in Cyprus would effectively bridge the gap between education, science and industry and it could also serve as a bridge between the EU and the Arab world in promoting development, regional cooperation and maritime security.”
President of the Board of University of Nicosia Nicos Peristianis spoke of the need to offer academic degrees, specialised certificates and courses of study as well as possibilities for research and innovation in shipping, an area the EU considers of great importance especially in view of the demand in the Mediterranean region.

Intercollege and Maritime Academy`s Executive Director Stylianos Mavromoustakos said the Academy would offer academic courses such as Shipping & Logistics Management, Maritime Transport, Marine Engineering and Marine Electrical Technology.

At the same time the Maritime Centre would offer security courses in accordance with STCW, courses on safety for the hydrocarbons industry (OPITO), courses for cooking on board vessels, port management and for captains of small vessels.

The event was also addressed by the President of the Arab Academy of Sciences, Technology and Maritime Transport Ismail Abdel Ghafar. (CNA)