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The
Central Mercantile Marine Fund has
come forward with interest free
loans for Malaysian seafarers who
need financial aid to sit for the
International Maritime
Organisation Standards of
Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers 19995
(STCW’95) upgrading courses.
According
to Marine Department Director
(Seamen Affairs and Port Division)
Capt. Abdul Rahim Akob those
interested can get interest-free
loans of up to RM5, 000 from the
Fund which is administered by the
Department.
Forms
are available at the Marine
Department offices throughout the
country.
Capt
Rahim urged seamen to allocate
some time to attend the courses as
it was a pre-requisite to getting
the STCW ’95 recognised
certification. The upgrade
includes personal survival
techniques, elementary first aid,
fire prevention and basic fire
fighting.
The
offer of the interest free loans
also responds to concerns raised
by the chairman of Malaysian
Seamen Association, Capt Mohd Saad
Din who said seafarers who do not
work on full time basis may face
finance difficulty to pay for the
course.
There
are an estimated 60,000 Malaysian
seafarers on the Malaysian
register working on board local
and foreign ships.
According
to the Ministry of Transport, out
of the 60,000 seamen only 772 had
so far (31 July 2001) complied
with the new regulation.
With
effect from February 1, 2001 it
will be mandatory for all
seafarers to have the STCW’95
qualification otherwise they will
not be allowed to work on ships
and go to sea.
This
includes local seafarers who work
on board local and foreign ships
as well as foreign seamen working
on Malaysian vessels.
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