Posted:
March 23, 2015
The annual STAR Center training needs conference, held March 4 and 5, brought together leading figures from AMO contracted companies, Military Sealift Command, the Maritime Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard and other key industry entities to review and address maritime training needs with officials of American Maritime Officers and the training professionals of STAR Center.
Among the primary topics at the conference were the training requirements for STCW 2010. STAR Center, a division of the AMO Safety and Education Plan and the primary training provider for members of AMO, provides a complete U.S. Coast Guard approved curriculum of STCW 2010 gap closing courses. Discussions during the conference also addressed potential curriculum adjustments to improve training for the AMO membership and to continue meeting the needs of commercial and military vessel managers.
STAR Center Director of Training Phil Shullo said the feedback from this year's conference will be very helpful.
"We schedule these conferences each year to get current information from senior MARAD, MSC, and Coast Guard officials out to contributing companies; to update companies on STAR training classes and programs; and to get input from those companies that will help STAR Center refocus our training efforts where necessary," Shullo said. "This year the primary topics were progress in meeting the STCW gap closing requirements and the introduction of training to meet the new IGF Code for low flashpoint fuels. ÊI think we were successful getting our messages out. I hope that in the future we will be able to have more company senior leaders participate to help us with strategic planning for the school."
The Training Needs Conference is geared to gather input on the STAR Center curriculum from vessel operating companies, Military Sealift Command and government agencies in order to fine tune existing courses and develop new courses as needed to meet U.S. Coast Guard, MSC and Maritime Administration requirements, as well as the objectives of AMO-contracted companies. The conference helps ensure all of the training the AMO membership will require remains readily available, and helps position AMO members at the forefront of a competitive industry.
This year's keynote speakers were Deputy Maritime Administrator Michael Rodriguez and Chris Thayer, director of contractor-operated ships at Military Sealift Command. Also addressing the group were Robert Smith and Dana Gregory of the National Maritime Center and Mark Kelly, executive vice president of Anderson-Kelly Associates, Inc.
During his presentation at the conference, Rodriguez talked about the need for trained and motivated mariners to meet the impending demand for seafarers as the boom of ship construction begins to bear fruit. He pointed to STAR Center as a central figure in that readiness component.
"These training schools are the kinds of partnerships that labor and management can have to make our industry better. STAR Center is a wonderful example. The level of energy around this place is what's really impressive," Rodriguez said. "The industry always needs skilled, experienced and motivated mariners. There is more demand on mariners for training and the workload at sea is getting tougher."
Rodriguez said MARAD is working closely with the maritime academies and the military to identify young people who want to take on the challenge of working at sea.
Rodriguez also talked about moving forward with the National Maritime Strategy, a proposal being put together by MARAD that is expected to shape and solidify the future of the industry. He said that, after gathering suggestions from stakeholders at a series of symposiums and meetings in 2014, MARAD intends to introduce a notice to propose policy to Congress in the second quarter of this year.
Chris Thayer told the group that the impact of the U.S. merchant marine could not be underestimated when it comes to national security and projecting U.S. military might on a global scale.
"The mariners are the lifeblood of what we do day in and day out," he said.
Thayer highlighted ships such as the USNS Montford Point and the M/V CAPT David I. Lyon, both crewed in all licensed positions by AMO members, as vessels the U.S. military needs in order to carry out its mission.
He also praised STAR Center for the work it does in producing qualified and knowledgeable mariners who can respond to a multitude of demands.
"MSC is pleased with the product we get out of STAR Center. This is a great facility," Thayer said.
STAR Center conference addresses training needs of commercial, military, federal vessel managers
The annual STAR Center training needs conference, held March 4 and 5, brought together leading figures from AMO contracted companies, Military Sealift Command, the Maritime Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard and other key industry entities to review and address maritime training needs with officials of American Maritime Officers and the training professionals of STAR Center.
Among the primary topics at the conference were the training requirements for STCW 2010. STAR Center, a division of the AMO Safety and Education Plan and the primary training provider for members of AMO, provides a complete U.S. Coast Guard approved curriculum of STCW 2010 gap closing courses. Discussions during the conference also addressed potential curriculum adjustments to improve training for the AMO membership and to continue meeting the needs of commercial and military vessel managers.
STAR Center Director of Training Phil Shullo said the feedback from this year's conference will be very helpful.
"We schedule these conferences each year to get current information from senior MARAD, MSC, and Coast Guard officials out to contributing companies; to update companies on STAR training classes and programs; and to get input from those companies that will help STAR Center refocus our training efforts where necessary," Shullo said. "This year the primary topics were progress in meeting the STCW gap closing requirements and the introduction of training to meet the new IGF Code for low flashpoint fuels. ÊI think we were successful getting our messages out. I hope that in the future we will be able to have more company senior leaders participate to help us with strategic planning for the school."
The Training Needs Conference is geared to gather input on the STAR Center curriculum from vessel operating companies, Military Sealift Command and government agencies in order to fine tune existing courses and develop new courses as needed to meet U.S. Coast Guard, MSC and Maritime Administration requirements, as well as the objectives of AMO-contracted companies. The conference helps ensure all of the training the AMO membership will require remains readily available, and helps position AMO members at the forefront of a competitive industry.
This year's keynote speakers were Deputy Maritime Administrator Michael Rodriguez and Chris Thayer, director of contractor-operated ships at Military Sealift Command. Also addressing the group were Robert Smith and Dana Gregory of the National Maritime Center and Mark Kelly, executive vice president of Anderson-Kelly Associates, Inc.
During his presentation at the conference, Rodriguez talked about the need for trained and motivated mariners to meet the impending demand for seafarers as the boom of ship construction begins to bear fruit. He pointed to STAR Center as a central figure in that readiness component.
"These training schools are the kinds of partnerships that labor and management can have to make our industry better. STAR Center is a wonderful example. The level of energy around this place is what's really impressive," Rodriguez said. "The industry always needs skilled, experienced and motivated mariners. There is more demand on mariners for training and the workload at sea is getting tougher."
Rodriguez said MARAD is working closely with the maritime academies and the military to identify young people who want to take on the challenge of working at sea.
Rodriguez also talked about moving forward with the National Maritime Strategy, a proposal being put together by MARAD that is expected to shape and solidify the future of the industry. He said that, after gathering suggestions from stakeholders at a series of symposiums and meetings in 2014, MARAD intends to introduce a notice to propose policy to Congress in the second quarter of this year.
Chris Thayer told the group that the impact of the U.S. merchant marine could not be underestimated when it comes to national security and projecting U.S. military might on a global scale.
"The mariners are the lifeblood of what we do day in and day out," he said.
Thayer highlighted ships such as the USNS Montford Point and the M/V CAPT David I. Lyon, both crewed in all licensed positions by AMO members, as vessels the U.S. military needs in order to carry out its mission.
He also praised STAR Center for the work it does in producing qualified and knowledgeable mariners who can respond to a multitude of demands.
"MSC is pleased with the product we get out of STAR Center. This is a great facility," Thayer said.