Photo by: SOVANN PHILONG The Phnom Penh Port near Wat Phnom. A new maritime institute is set to open later this year, officials say.
The Phnom Penh Post
Thursday, 05 February 2009
Hor Hab
Launch of degree-offering school could come this year
THE Cambodian Maritime Institute, the first school in the Kingdom to offer associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in maritime studies, could potentially open in time for the 2009-10 academic year, said Hei Bavy, director general of the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port (PPAP), in an interview with the Post Monday.
Hei Bavy declined to say how much it would cost to open the school, which will be operated by the PPAP with assistance from the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (SAP) and under supervision from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. But he said officials had thus far received 60 percent of the money and equipment necessary to begin operations.
Funding for the school will come from the two ports, the ministry, student fees and donor countries, Hei Bavy said, adding that the European Union, for instance, had already provided financial support and plans to supply the school with a navigation simulator by mid-2009.
“If we get more support from development partners on time, I think we can start our first academic program this year because we are ready,” he said.
Need for workers
Hei Bavy said rapid growth in the domestic maritime industry had created a high demand for workers and, concurrently, an institute in which to train them.
Presently, the only domestic maritime courses on offer are those at the Cambodian Maritime Training Centre, which offers short courses – ranging in length from four to 12 weeks – on skills such as navigation, Hei Bavy said.
He said ships looking to fly the Cambodian flag are required to have a crew that is 20-percent Cambodian. He said he expected one-quarter of all licensed ship captains in the Kingdom to be interested in attending the institute because of the many employment opportunities in the industry.
Lack of interest?
But a 2008 report released by the Cambodian Federation of Employers and Business Associations found that only one percent of university and vocational training students wanted to work in the shipping and airlines industries.
Lou Kim Chhun, chairman and chief executive officer of the SAP, said the increase in qualified maritime workers the institute would likely generate could help him fill positions at the port, which employs 1,160 people.
“There are many jobs available on the ships for Cambodians, but right now they have no chance to get them,” said Zew Min Win, general manager of Mong Reththy Port in Koh Kong province.
Thursday, 05 February 2009
Hor Hab
Launch of degree-offering school could come this year
THE Cambodian Maritime Institute, the first school in the Kingdom to offer associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in maritime studies, could potentially open in time for the 2009-10 academic year, said Hei Bavy, director general of the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port (PPAP), in an interview with the Post Monday.
Hei Bavy declined to say how much it would cost to open the school, which will be operated by the PPAP with assistance from the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (SAP) and under supervision from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. But he said officials had thus far received 60 percent of the money and equipment necessary to begin operations.
Funding for the school will come from the two ports, the ministry, student fees and donor countries, Hei Bavy said, adding that the European Union, for instance, had already provided financial support and plans to supply the school with a navigation simulator by mid-2009.
“If we get more support from development partners on time, I think we can start our first academic program this year because we are ready,” he said.
Need for workers
Hei Bavy said rapid growth in the domestic maritime industry had created a high demand for workers and, concurrently, an institute in which to train them.
Presently, the only domestic maritime courses on offer are those at the Cambodian Maritime Training Centre, which offers short courses – ranging in length from four to 12 weeks – on skills such as navigation, Hei Bavy said.
He said ships looking to fly the Cambodian flag are required to have a crew that is 20-percent Cambodian. He said he expected one-quarter of all licensed ship captains in the Kingdom to be interested in attending the institute because of the many employment opportunities in the industry.
Lack of interest?
But a 2008 report released by the Cambodian Federation of Employers and Business Associations found that only one percent of university and vocational training students wanted to work in the shipping and airlines industries.
Lou Kim Chhun, chairman and chief executive officer of the SAP, said the increase in qualified maritime workers the institute would likely generate could help him fill positions at the port, which employs 1,160 people.
“There are many jobs available on the ships for Cambodians, but right now they have no chance to get them,” said Zew Min Win, general manager of Mong Reththy Port in Koh Kong province.
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