Growth & Jobs | Jamaicans trained to provide harbour-towage services

Kingston Harbour is set to become the premier Caribbean hub for Post Panamax vessels after Ocean recently signed a 10-year contract with Jamaica's Port Authority for the provision of harbour-towage services.

Ocean invested approximately US$60,000 on a training programme for Jamaicans who will be hired to operate the vessels. The Quebec-based company also provided three state-of-the-art tugboats, which replaced two older vessels previously utilised by the port.

Paul Emiel Malabver, chief engineer of the Ocean Kingston Pride, spoke highly of the quality of the training while praising Ocean's newer vessels and the advanced technology.

"The wow factor for me, was the newer vessels, and the automation and control of these vessels are state of the art. More and more, the industry is moving towards automation of the machinery to reduce human error. As it relates to other aspects of the training, the policies of the company and the safety procedures are laid out in regulation with international bodies," remarked Malabver.

One trainee, Oneil Hinds, who spoke positively of his experience with Ocean, noted that the training has enhanced his knowledge after over 10 years in the industry.

"With 15 years in the industry, Ocean's training is the best I have seen in all my years. The instructors are very good at what they do and discussing the issue of safety that we sometimes take for granted, was an area that Ocean focuses a great deal on," remarked Hinds.

Ocean intends to conduct periodic refresher courses through the use of an e-learning platform that employees will be able to access free of charge. This method will be more cost effective, timely and efficient. Ocean further signed a memorandum of understanding with the Caribbean Maritime University for future specialised trainings, whereby Ocean will have access to CMU's facilities and instructors, who are also required to be knowledgeable of the newest technology in the industry.