Earlier this week, DNV launched a maritime academy for industry professionals in Hong Kong, agreed to certify new curriculum at the ailing Hong Kong Sea School, and donated half a million HK$ dollars to the Hong Kong Maritime Museum - a triple pronged effort to ensure greater maritime technical competency in the Special Administrative Region (SAR).
Commenting on the opening of the maritime academy, DNV’s regional manager for Greater China, Bjørn K. Haugland said: “We have fostered skills and expertise in nations throughout the world with our DNV Academy scheme, the latest of which opens here in Hong Kong.”
Haugland added: “The Hong Kong academy follows on from the one in Dalian, which opened in 2005 as our first in China. In a few days time we shall open a third academy in China, this time in Shanghai.”
Maritime partner
The Hong Kong academy differs from those on the mainland, which focuses their courses on shipbuilding. “We feel Hong Kong, with its strong shipmanagement foundation, can learn from the DNV Academy the subtle intricacies of advanced ship operation. Both owners and managers here are keen to advance into new more technically challenging ship types and our academy is one way to move up that technological know-how ladder, ” said Haugland.
District manager Frankie Ho, who commented the opening of the DNV Academy Hong Kong, said it's a reflection of the need for a dedicated shipping technical curriculum for industry practitioners.
“With this opening, DNV continues to reinforce its position in Hong Kong and South China as a maritime partner dedicated to improving technological competence,” he said.
DNV also announced its commitment to certify a new course at the Hong Kong Sea School to ISO 9000:2000 standard.
Employees for the next generation
“DNV is doing all it can to help ensure that there is a strong pool of maritime related employees for the next generation,” said Haugland. “By certifying a brand new course at the Sea School, DNV is helping to make sure Hong Kong’s shipping knowledge base does not recede.”
In addition, DNV also saluted the SAR’s heritage by making a HK$500,000 contribution to the Hong Kong maritime Museum.
“These three things – the academy opening up, the sea school course certification, and the Museum donation, help to reinforce shipping as a good career for Hong Kongers now and in the future.” concluded Haugland.
