First Director for European Maritime Safety Agency

01 Feb 2003

Willem de Ruiter, currently head of the Maritime Safety Unit at the European Commission's Directorate General for Energy and Transport, has been appointed as the first head of its European Maritime Safety Agency. The 51 year old Dutchman has a degree in civil engineering and worked for the Netherlands' Ministry of Public Works before joining the EC in 1985. 

DBC Celebrates 25 Years of Marine Safety

01 Feb 2003

Canadian liferaft manufacturer DBC Marine Safety Systems is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its humble origins as a small service station in a Vancouver suburb. 

IACS to Update IMO Model Training Courses

01 Feb 2003

The International Association of Classification Societies has, at the request of the IMO, agreed to undertake a revision of six of the IMO's set of model training courses. The courses are intended to assist maritime training institutes and their teaching staff. 

VTS Training Expanded at South Tyneside College

01 Feb 2003

South Tyneside College has completed the installation of a £250,000 Vessel Traffic Services training and simulation centre with equipment supplied by Kongsberg Maritime Ship Systems. The new facilities increase the College's capacity to run VTS courses following IALA V103 guidance, for which it was the first training facility to be awarded MCA approval. 

On-Line Simulation Boosts Crew Training

01 Feb 2003

Kongsberg Maritime Ship Systems (KMSS) is enjoying a buoyant period for its training and simulation division, with recently signed contracts from the Canadian Coast Guard College, the Navy Academy in Taiwan and the AMA Computer College in the Philippines. KMSS has also opened a new training centre on its site in Horten, Norway. 

Free Personal Protective Equipment Advice for the Marine Industries

01 Feb 2003

According to the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) the lead association for the Personal Protective Equipment Directive in the UK, many employers are confused when it comes to choosing the right equipment, especially when it is covered by different sets of regulations. The BSIF is offering free advice to employers within the marine industries on how best to select safety equipment for their staff. 

Dutch Launch Vessel Evacuation Decision Research Project

01 Feb 2003

A high powered team has begun a research project in Holland which aims to investigate important factors that occur during the evacuation process on board ships and to subsequently develop technologies and procedures to make this process more efficient. 

Extended CCTV for Aberden Harbour Security

01 Feb 2003

The existing CCTV system for Aberdeen Harbour UK, which handles four million tonnes of cargo annually, has been extended to cover other strategic areas of the port. 

Wolf Wins Marine Type Approvals

01 Feb 2003

Sheffield UK based Wolf Safety has obtained new marine Type Approvals from Lloyds Register and the MCA for their straight and right angle ATEX torches and updated Wolflite safety headlamps, which also conform to the forthcoming Explosive Atmospheres Equipment Directive 94/9/EC. 

Stacks of Opportunity for Trainee Marine Engineer

01 Feb 2003

Marine industry training provider ITE has placed the first marine engineer apprentice to be employed by UK marina operator Marina Development Ltd. Dave Webb approached Dorset based ITE with his wish to become a marine engineer and was given the two year apprenticeship at MDL's Cobb's Quay Marina in Poole. 

New Training Facility for Seattle

01 Feb 2003

The Pacific Maritime Institute (PMI) has selected Transas Marine USA to provide the navigational simulation systems for their new simulation and training facility which will open this summer in the Port of Seattle.