The World Maritime University (WMU), commissioned by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in collaboration with the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC) Caribbean, based at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), delivered a regional seminar on Alternative Fuels and New Technologies for the Safe Operation of Ships from 3 to 7 August in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
The regional seminar is a continued joint effort to equip trainers with the knowledge and skills to educate seafarers and shore-based personnel on the safe and effective use of alternative fuels, such as ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen, and new technologies, including batteries and carbon capture and storage. Building on a similar regional training programme delivered in Asia, the seminar supports ongoing regulatory development at the Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) Sub-Committee, including generic and fuel-specific interim guidelines.
The five-day programme, hosted at MTCC Caribbean, brought together maritime instructors, maritime administration staff involving seafarers’ certifications, and industry stakeholders from the Caribbean region. Participants engaged in a comprehensive curriculum covering the technical, safety, and operational aspects of alternative fuels and new technologies, alongside pedagogical training to enhance their ability to develop and deliver training programmes. The programme featured interactive workshops, scenario-based exercises, practical demonstrations, and micro-teaching sessions, ensuring participants are well-prepared to train seafarers and shore-based personnel.
Key highlights included recent development in training frameworks for seafarers, technical sessions on the chemical properties, risk control measures and emergency response for ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen. Pedagogical sessions guided trainers to develop tailored, effective training modules for diverse audiences. In addition, a field trip to Yara Trinidad Ltd offered hands-on safety demonstrations for ammonia. Another industry presentation on methanol handling and a tour were provided by Proman which has methanol plants in Trinidad.
Twenty-four participants were funded by IMO and represented 8 Member States - Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Women represented 13 of the participants, or 54 per cent of the cohort. WMU faculty contributing to the seminar included Professor Momoko Kitada, Professor Aykut I. Ölcer, Professor Dong Cheng, and Lecturer Anne Pazaver. The MTCC Caribbean team, including Professor Stephan Nanan, Mr Michael Razack, Ms Suzette Balkaran and Mr Nathanael Davis, supported the coordination and delivery of the programme.
Through its continued collaboration with IMO and regional partners, WMU is supporting capacity development efforts to prepare maritime professionals for the safe adoption of alternative fuels and new technologies.
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