Neil Bellefontaine News

Officials from various government entities in the Philippines have received training in how to develop a National Maritime Transport Policy (NMPT). The concept is being promoted by International Maritime Organization (IMO)  as a good governance practice to guide planning, decision making and legislation in the maritime sector, and as a key driver for a country's sustainable development. The event took place in Manila, Philippines (6-8 March), organised by IMO together with the Philippines Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the World Maritime University (WMU). The training comes at an opportune moment – with the Philippines in the process of adopting its Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP) 2018-2028 – designed to enhance the country’s maritime industry.

Yesterday in Malmö, Sweden, the Korean Shipowners’ Association (KSA) made a donation of $50,000 to the World Maritime University. The donation was handed over by KSA chairman, Youn-jae Lee, at a ceremony attended by Cleopatra Doumibia-Henry (president designate of WMU) and Neil Bellefontaine (current president). WMU moved into Malmö city earlier this month and KSA’s donation will be used to furbish the university’s cafeteria which has now been named KSA Hall. KSA said it maintains strong relationships with WMU as more than 80 Korean shipping professionals have graduated from the university.

Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry has been appointed president to head the World Maritime University (WMU), as announced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and university. Dr. Doumbia-Henry will be the seventh WMU president and will be the first female in the role. Dr. Doumbia-Henry, who has dual Dominican and Swiss nationality, is currently director of the International Labor Standards Department, of the International Labor Office of the International Labor Organization (ILO). She is expected to assume office as WMU President, in Malmö, Sweden, in July.

The Korean Register (KR), an IACS member classification society, announced that it has again donated its award winning KR-CON software to students at the World Maritime University (WMU). KR-CON is an international database program which contains the full up-to-date texts of all IMO Conventions, Codes, Resolutions and Circulars in a single USB memory stick. It enables users to identify regulations relevant to a specific task and helps ensure all IMO requirements are applied correctly. KR-CON is currently being used by surveyors, port state control inspectors, shipping companies, shipyards and design houses in more than 30 countries across the world. It is available in USB format and from the KR website where all new regulations are immediately updated.