On December 1, the opening ceremony of “China-Indonesia Maritime Technical Cooperation Competence Development for VTS Operators of Lombok Strait and Sunda Strait” program hosted by China MSA (Maritime Safety Administration of the People’s Republic of China) and co-organized by Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration and SMU, was held at Conference Room 128, Administrative Building of SMU. More than 40 people attended the ceremony, including 16 trainees from Indonesia Lombok Strait and Sunda Strait, Mr. Ge Renyi, Director General of Personnel Training Department of China MSA, Mr. Zhang Chongyang, Deputy Director General of Navigation Management Department of China MSA, Mr. Chang Fuzhi, Deputy Director General of Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration, Mr. Liang Congcong, Deputy Director of The Secretary's Office of Shanghai MSA, Director Gu Ping from Training Center, Mr. Yang Wanfeng, Vice-President of SMU, heads from International Office and Continuing Education College, some trainees and teachers from Maritime System and volunteers representatives. The ceremony was presided over by Mr. Zhang Chongyang.
Mr. Ge Renyi gave a speech on behalf of China MSA. He said that this program is the first cooperative program between China and Indonesia on maritime personnel exchange and education training, which is good for elevating law enforcement capacity of the transportation and maritime departments of both sides, coordinating the regional maritime law enforcement standard, and jointly maintaining the safety of the sea and key shipping areas. On the other hand, it will enhance friendship between maritime staffs of both sides and lay a good foundation for deeper and higher-level cooperation in maritime management.
Mr. Chang Fuzhi introduced the developments of Wusong VTS Center and Yangshan VTS Center and their business scope. He said Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration had undertaken the task of training VTS staffs in national maritime system since 2010 and offered large amount of qualified VTS staff to maritime positions around China, and the two VTS centers had mature training process including various teaching modes such as theoretical study, practical operation, sidekick study and discussion. In his words, Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration had the confidence and capability to successfully hold the program together with SMU.
Prof. Yang Wanfeng delivered a welcome speech on behalf of SMU. He said the program was not only part of the maritime technical cooperation between China and Indonesia, but also an important step to deepen cooperation in ocean. SMU is honored to undertake the task and will try its best in curriculum development, accommodation arrangement, teachers and staff allocation and practice to assist the program.
Mr. Putu Onishi gave a speech on behalf of Indonesian trainees. He thanked the China MSA, Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration and SMU for their contribution to the program, saying he cherished this opportunity of studying advanced technology and management experience of China's maritime in the VTS area.
Competence Development for VTS Operators of Lombok Strait and Sunda Strait was first proposed in the eighth meeting of China-Indonesia Maritime Cooperation Technical Committee on December 10, 2013. It is also part of the cooperation between China and Indonesia in such fields as navigation safety, maritime safety and marine environment. Based on the overall principle of “focusing on actual needs to design the training plan and combining theory with practice”, Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration and SMU were selected to undertake the program and appoint professors, captains and maritime officials proficient in VTS as instructors and liaisons from SMU and the national maritime system. The training program starts from November 30 to December 13. The trainees will have simulation practical operation, sidekick study and discussion in VTS center after one-week theoretical study at SMU.
