NMP trains over 5,000 maritime professionals for 2020

NMP trains over 5,000 maritime professionals for 2020
30 Dec 2020 https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/12/30/business/maritime-business/nmp-tr...

More than 5,000 maritime professionals were trained by the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) this year amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic that constrained operations of many other training institutions and businesses.

NMP is the sole government maritime training and research center in the country.

Its 2020 Year-End Performance Assessment revealed that NMP trained a total of 5,405 maritime professionals composed of aspiring and active seafarers, maritime educators, assessors, supervisors, and other allied personnel in the maritime industry.

The said number represents a 13.55 percent increase from its reformulated annual target of 4,500 trainees, a notable rise even as it temporarily stopped operations for three months due to the Covid-19 induced lockdowns and public safety measures.

According to NMP Executive Director Joel Maglungsod, the training that was mostly taken by maritime professionals include Professional Development Courses, Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW), Medical First Aid (MEFA), Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue Boats (SCRB), Refresher Course on Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue Boats (RSCRB), Global Maritime Distress and Safety System Radio Operators (GMDSS RO), Ratings Forming Part of a Watch in a Manned Engine-room/designated to perform duties in a Periodically Unmanned Engine Room (RFPEW), Basic Training (BT), Refresher Course on Basic Training (RBT), Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF), and Refresher Course on Advanced Fire Fighting (RAFF).

NMP, in partnership with Gothong Southern Shipping Lines, also launched a new training course to ensure the safety of the crew, dockworkers, and cargoes on board a ship. The Vessel Crane Operator Course addresses the training needs of domestic seafarers to prevent crane accidents caused by human error, which at times can lead to death.

NMP likewise transitioned to the new normal of education and training by providing free online courses in August. This included STD/HIV/AIDS Prevention in the Maritime Sector (SHAPIMS), Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the Maritime Sector (PADAMS), and Gender Sensitivity Training for Seafarers (GSTS). A pilot-class on Oily Water Separator (OWS) Course and Updating Training on Basic Safety (BTU) using blended learning were also held last October 10 & 17 2020, respectively.

Meanwhile, the training institution continues to conduct face-to-face training in Region VIII with strict implementation of the Maritime Industry Authority’s (Marina) approved Post-Enhanced Community Quarantine Operational Plan and other health and safety protocols as required by the Department of Health (Doh), Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), and local government unit (LGU) of Tacloban.