University of Cebu

Another foreign shipping organization dropped anchor on UC grounds for a possible partnership, intending to give 100 scholarship grants initially.

International Maritime Employers Committee (IMEC) visited UC Maritime Education and Training Center in Mambaling campus last November 13, 2007 and inspected the school’s facilities for a tie-up to commence in June, 2008. IMEC was represented by their Secretary General David Dearsly, along with Mr. Joseph Thuillier and Mr. Bob Godall.

The group was met by UC President Atty. Augusto W. Go and the NSA Cadets gave the ceremonial Arrival of Honors. The visitors along with Atty. Go, Architect Maxwell Espina and the UC-LM Administrators held a brief meeting. Then, they were off to a tour around the campus. First stop was the Machine Shop. Then they checked the Engine Control Room, Seamanship Laboratory, Training Center Classrooms, Engine Simulator, Full Mission Bridge Simulator, Library, CBT and Media Center, and the Dormitory Complex. Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) demonstrations were done while the parties were exploring the campus.

IMEC is an employers’ organization based in London. The group stands for 121 shipping principals and manning agencies all over the world, operating over 5,000 ships and employing over 145,000 seafarers of various nationalities.

In their website, IMEC Chairman Ian Sherwood is quoted as saying, “IMEC has become a major player in the shipping community and we must join others, such as the Norwegian and Netherlands Shipowners Associations in investing in maritime training ─ in a structured way and not just as a group of individual companies doing their own thing.” He also underscored the importance of their training to meet international industry standards.

IMEC’s presence in UC-METC will give rise to a new building on the parade ground of the campus, adjacent to the NSA Dorm and the education of an initial 100 full-scholar freshmen.