Speaking at the function organized by the Maldives Seafarers and Labour Union, held to mark the Day of the Seafarer, President Mohamed Nasheed has announced that the government targeted to train 150 additional ship officers over the next two years.
He said the government also targeted to train 500 ship crews, along with the 150 officers, and prepare over 2000 Maldivians for maritime jobs instead of around 650 Maldivian seamen currently working.
In his address at the event held at Dharubaaruge yesterday, the President said that the Maldives needed the assistance and support from various overseas institutions, apart from the Maldives National University, in order to reach this goal.
Noting the absence of adequate colleges to train ship captains or chief officers, the President also added that it was duty for the University to develop and standardize maritime studies in the Maldives. Further, he said, as the University was working to improve local maritime training capacity, the government could provide training opportunities to Maldivian youth in education institutions overseas.
The President pointed out that as 90 percent of the Maldives is the ocean unlike other countries, most of the Maldivians were by nature accustomed to life at sea and were more talented seamen.
However, he noted that the industry has declined causing the annual income from the industry to reduce from over US$25 million to less than US$6 million.
He also spoke about how, when over ten thousand students finish school each year, not enough youth pursue careers in the maritime industry resulting in the industry’s decline.
He said decline in the industry was attributable, primarily, to skills mismatch, like in many industries in the Maldives.
The President said, given the existing economic conditions and level of development, it would not be impossible for the government to provide skills in the field.
At last night’s ceremony, the President awarded an honorary membership of the Maldives Seafarers and Labour Union to Mr Ahmed Nashid.
