Port and Maritime Officials Gather in Singapore
The fifth run of the MPA Academy Port Management Programme (PMP), aimed at port masters, harbour masters and middle managers from maritime and port authorities, kicked off today with a record 20 maritime officials from across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East and Oceania.
Developed and organised by MPA Academy, the five-day programme will be delivered by practitioners from the industry as well as senior officers from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Some of the key subjects that will be covered during the programme include safety, port planning and security. This year, the programme will include a new topic on digitalisation to address the increasing adoption of automation and technologies in the maritime industry. Another new component is the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) that highlights key elements for preparation of an IMO audit.
Held at MPA Academy, the lectures will imbue participants with theoretical knowledge as well as facilitate sharing and discussions. Participants will also benefit from practical sessions at the Integrated Simulation Centre where they can ‘navigate’ various types of vessels under different weather and sea conditions.
Site visits to local maritime facilities, such as PSA’s container terminal and MPA’s Port Operations Control Centre will augment the lectures and provide participants with a better understanding of Singapore’s port and vessel traffic management operations. To help participants better understand the challenges of marine incidents management, a site visit to an emergency response centre has also been added to the programme.
“Attending the 5th Port Management Programme is an important opportunity for me; because I will be able to know how the ports of Singapore and the other participating countries are managed. My participation in this programme will allow me to expand my knowledge in port management, especially on crisis management. In addition, I am sure this programme will allow me to identify the way in which organisations from other countries interact with one another to cope with threats, as well as those measures or methodologies that can be replicated in my country to maintain the continuity of the national port operation in a safe and efficient manner,” said Commander Tellez Garcia Manuel Alejandro, Subdirector of Records, Registry and Permits, Ministry of the Navy (Maritime National Authority) Mexico
Capt Taboshe Thembela, Ship Surveyor, South African Maritime Safety Authority said, “I hope that the 5th PMP will be a platform for the international participants to form a global support group where organisations or individuals can share common concerns and best practices, and also find suitable ways to address their specific needs as a country. A major component of our industry gains lies within our ports and so we will need to ensure that we are well equipped and prepared to be ranked amongst the greats when it comes to management and efficiency.”
The Port Management Programme has trained more than 80 maritime officials since its inception in 2014.
MPA Academy also organises two other flagship programmes aimed at middle to senior management of overseas maritime administrations and port authorities – the Advanced Maritime Leaders’ Programme organised for heads of maritime and port administrations, and the Maritime Public Leaders’ Programme organised for directors in maritime administrations and port authorities.
