has organized several instructive conferences including:
- 2nd International Conference on Engine Room Simulators (ICERS2), 1995
in Canada;
- 8th IMLA Workshop on Maritime English, 1995 in Poland; and
- 9th International Navigation Simulator Lecturers' Conference
(INSLC9), 1996 in Canada.
These conferences have served to stimulate the members' interest in
developing new techniques for Maritime Education and Training. Additionally, with regard
to the revision of the STCW Convention in 1995, I am certain that IMLA, as the
consultative body of IMO, has contributed greatly in the actual work on the revision of
the Convention by offering effective opinions on the standards for training and
certification of seafarers from the professional point of view.
During 1995 BIMCO and ISF jointly carried out the research into the
worldwide demand for, and supply of' seafarers. According to their report on this
research, there are 1.2 million seafarers in the world and it is estimated that there will
be a shortage of some several tens of thousand officers within the next ten years.
The future supply of seafarers will be closely linked with the
implementation of Maritime Education and Training based on the revised STCW Convention.
The revised Convention prescribes the new standards for training, such as the use of
simulators. The revised Convention will enter into force on February 1997, and every party
is invited to prepare a training system which will satisfy the standards of this revised
Convention. In this respect, the theme of this Conference "Advanced Technology and
Manning "is most timely.
Recently, it has been said that some 80 % of ships' casualties have
been caused by human factors. As you know, this has triggered the revision of the STCW
Convention. Ships' casualties cause serious damage to people, property and the marine
environment. It is imperative therefore that maritime educational institutions supply
properly qualified seafarers worldwide.
As a consequence of this, I am sure that members of IMLA and maritime
lecturers in the world will be expected to play an even more important role in Maritime
Education
