Phl maritime center gets Belgian recognition

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Simulation and Training, Inc. (Philcamsat) has received the distinction of being the first maritime training center in all of Asia to be recognized by the Belgian Maritime Inspectorate as its courses receive certification from the directorate-general for maritime transport under the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport agency of the Kingdom of Belgium.

Also granted certification was the Mapua-PTC College of Maritime Training and Education (CMET), an industry-academic linkage between leading crew management company Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. (PTC) and the Malayan Colleges Laguna of the Mapua Institute of Technology.

Issued in Antwerp, Belgium by naval architect-director Bart Heylbroeck, the certification verifies that the content, method of instruction and the evaluation employed by Philcamsat and CMET in their training courses are in accordance with the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) code.

With this development, Philcamsat trainees and graduates of CMET are assured that their training is compliant with international standards and is duly recognized by European-flagged ships, thereby helping secure their employment on board these vessels.

This achievement is another testament to Philcamsat’s strength in and commitment to providing seafarers with world-class competency training through its simulator-based center in First Maritime Place, Makati and its basic safety training campus in Maragondon called The MAST, as well as through its collaboration with CMET for basic education.

Instrumental in Philcamsat’s attainment of this distinction is Exmar Shipmanagement, represented by Marc Robert, LPG unit director, who shares Philcamsat’s belief in the capability and skill of the Filipino seafarer enhanced through opportunities for continuing professional development.