Izah Azahari
The maritime industry plays a critical role in providing diverse employment opportunities to aspiring cadets and mariners.
This was said by Chief Executive of Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam (MPABD) and Managing Director of Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn Bhd (BGC) Captain Abdul Mateen bin Abdurrahman Liew at the country’s first National Maritime Dialogue (NMD) at the Al-Fath Hall of the MPABD building.
The event was jointly organised by the MPABD in partnership with BGC, the Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE), and the Manpower Planning and Employment Council (MPEC).
The NMD aimed to provide a platform for the local maritime community to highlight and showcase areas of interest on maritime developments – critical to the nation’s readiness to support the growth of the local maritime industry.
The dialogue also served as an avenue for the local maritime community to reflect on the key learnings across the industry.
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha was the guest of honour.
Through this dialogue, Captain Abdul Mateen hoped that industry players, and relevant stakeholders will cultivate a maritime ecosystem which looks into all aspects of development, including elevating competency standards following internationally recognised accreditations.
The NMD also inaugurated two important cooperation milestones through the signing of a Service Agreement between BGC and IBTE and the Secondment Agreement between BGC and Brupars Sdn Bhd.
Deputy Chief Executive of MPABD Mohammad Bahreen bin Dato Haji Hamzah delivered a keynote address on ‘Manpower Demand in the Global Perspective’.
He shared some insights on the increasing demand for seafarers around the world, indicating the limitless potential for local seafarers to venture beyond Bruneian shores for a career in the maritime industry.
A panel discussion followed with representatives from MPABD, MPEC, BGC, Brunei Maritime Academy (BMA), and Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE) on the topic of ‘Brunei’s readiness to meet the future demand of seafaring in the changing environment’.
The discussion shed light on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on shipping companies not just in the Sultanate but also globally, highlighting the need to adapt to the volatile nature of the industry, and recognising the vital role that seafarers play in supporting international trade.
In celebration of this year’s Day of the Seafarer 2022, with the theme ‘Your voyage – then and now, share your journey’, a second panel discussion took place in the afternoon involving representatives from the Manpower Industry Steering Committee (MISC), BGC, Brupars, and Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP).
The panellists highlighted the major developments over the years in the areas of operations, technology, and standards – giving an overview of Brunei’s early maritime history.
The highlight of the NMD was the official launch of the Brunei Darussalam Maritime Competency Framework, jointly developed by the relevant industry stakeholders through the MISC, with the objective of standardising the requirements and competencies in the local maritime industry.
The competency framework also ensures that Bruneian seafarers are recognised globally, based on formally adopted international requirements, including certifications, and training standards, including the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW), which is one of the four pillars of Maritime Law.
