With the objective to ensure a uniform quality of training in the maritime industry, DNV SeaSkill in India delivers on a positive note.
Talking about the launch of the DNV SeaSkill division in India on 1st Jan 2009, Capt. Vernon Sequeira, DNV SeaSkill Manager, India & Sri Lanka said that, "It initially all began with our shipping clients inquiring about developing a Competence Management System that would bring about “Competence beyond Compliance” in their organization. He added saying that, “At that point, we gave our clients the essential know-how and shared our Competence Management experiences with them. Consequently, looking at the interest and curiosity articulated by our clients, we eventually decided to embark on SeaSkill as a new distinct service in India.”
Services offered
DNV SeaSkill in India offers facilitation for development of competence standards, competence management system verification & certification with Society of International Gas Tanker & Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) and Tanker Officer Training Standards (TOTS) compliance, course verification & certification, simulator system verification & certification, marine academy / training center verification & certification, and also conducts workshops for trainers & assessors.
Vernon pointed out that, “These services are provided to ship owners, ship managers and institutes offering maritime training, as a package for identifying and sustaining competence linked to business goals in the whole fleet (ashore and sea), eventually fulfilling DNV SeaSkill objective of achieving “Competence beyond Compliance”.
Presenting DNV SeaSkill services in the Indian market
DNV SeaSkill recently participated in the two day 'World Oil, Gas & Offshore conference 2009 (WOGO 2009)', organized by WorldOil, held in Mumbai, India. The theme of the WOGO conference was “Challenges & New opportunities.” This was the first practical conference, to highlight the latest exploration and technical developments in the Oil & Gas industry, in response to the needs of the national and international markets & regulations.
Talking about the current global Oil & Gas Industry which is going through unprecedented growth, Mr. Amit Ray, General Manager, DNV SeaSkill Asia says that, "At the WOGO conference, we took the opportunity to share our experience and knowledge with delegates primarily from the Oil & Gas industry. We presented a paper on “Seafarer competence & development in offshore industry” at this conference, to which we received a positive response.”
Amit added saying that, “DNV SeaSkill does not offer Training services, but it is fundamentally the Certification of Maritime Education & Training related activities. Through DNV SeaSkill services, we aim to assist Ship Owners & their associated Training providers to produce People Fit for Purpose.”
In addition, DNV SeaSkill also participated at the World Maritime Technology Conference and Exhibition 2009 (WMTC 2009), organized by the Institute of Marine Engineers held this year in Mumbai.
DNV SeaSkill organized the "Competence Development Forums” at Mumbai and Chennai in India. "The basic aim for organizing these forums was to present DNV SeaSkill services to delegates essentially ship owners, ship managers, maritime training organizations, who were in attendance at this conference,” says Vernon.
Contracts won
DNV SeaSkill has inked a deal with ‘Chami Vadhyar Marine Technology Centre’ - a training institution developing multi-tasking technicians for the ship building and marine industry. This company is associated with ‘TEBMA Shipyard Ltd.’ and DNV SeaSkill has won the contract for certifying a three year course that involves the training & certification of candidates in the ship building industry, says Vernon.
Talking about the association with DNV, the principal of Chami Vadhyar Marine Technology Centre, Mr. Kutty says, “We are very proud to be associated with DNV SeaSkill and we feel DNV SeaSkill is doing noble services in the marine field of training and development of skills.
He continues, “Whatever is taught has no meaning unless it is validated by an authority whose reputation itself is in the highest esteem in the international market. DNV is one amongst such international organization, whose certification of the course will help individual or organization to get recognized world over.”
Looking forward
A very optimistic Vernon points out that, “DNV is in discussions with several other major training institutes and academies spread across India, for the certification of their courses & simulators. We are also in discussion with the only maritime training institute providing specialized training to the marine offshore fleet.
Institutes and academies are also interested in DNV SeaSkill’s “Bench Marking” process, the end product of which is a Technical Report. This provides the Institutes with a detailed report on their “Strengths & Weaknesses”. It not only indicates these areas but also provides solutions on how to sustain their strengths or how to improve upon any identified weaknesses.
Vernon concludes saying that, “This is just the beginning and we have a tap the potential market with more vigor and enthusiasm. We need to strengthen our reach within the region, by marketing & branding DNV SeaSkill services and also by effectively participating in conferences, which give us a platform to present ourselves as providers to produce People Fit for Purpose.”