OW Bunker announces that 10 new recruits have been selected to join its international training programme. The intensive course, which takes two years to complete, will begin on 1 August 2008.

INTERTANKO launches the Tanker Officer Training Standards (TOTS) initiative.

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) has commissioned an independent study into the feasibility of instigating professional qualifications for the global bunkering industry workforce.

The Netherlands Maritime University (NMU), a new department of the STC-Group received final approval from the accreditation organisation NVAO to start the new Master Shipping and Transport education program.

The specialist shipping and law university in Greece, BCA, has today announced that will award a two-year scholarship to one lucky delegate attending the Bunker Summit: Greece 2007.

Intertanko and the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) have agreed to present their respective views on tackling emissions from ships in a major environmental initiative taking place in Athens on 8 May.

Outgoing chairman of American Association of Average Adjusters laments declining ranks of seafarers and surveyors.

The Permanent Secretary for Economic Development, Ms Eva Cheng, presents cheques to 13 cadets who joined the Sea-going Training Incentive Scheme and completed their employment contracts.

Class society pledges support for Qatar’s Maritime Center plans

Leading maritime training provider Videotel Marine International has produced a new training course for ships’ environmental officers.

Nearly 100 delegates, representing over 60 companies, ship owners, managers and engineers came together at BP Marine’s Winds of Change events staged in Singapore and Hong Kong to share practical advice and information around the impact of environmental legislation and the options available.

As debate runs high around how best to prepare for impending environmental legislation, industry thought-leaders and shipping engineers are preparing to gather in Asia to share experiences and debate the way forward.

Robin Meech of Marine and Energy Consulting Limited, has prepared an awareness briefing on sulphur in bunkers.

This five-day residential bunker course covers technical, operational, commercial, financial and legal aspects.

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) today endorsed a major new bunkering event which will take place in Panama during the week of 23-26 May 2006 and will incorporate a specially-adapted version of the IBIA Bunker Arbitration Experience that received critical acclaim in New York in October.

Building on recent success, more industry seminars are planned by fuels and lubricants major BP Marine.

Lloyd’s Register,the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have collaborated to set up two professorships at NUS, worth a total of S$9 million.

‘Bunkers – The Book’ should be warmly welcomed by anyone connected with the shipping industry, says The Commonwealth Lawyer.

A technical conference organised by BP Marine in Copenhagen in October will bring together ship operators and industry experts to look at the technical and commercial implications of impending EU directive on sulphur in marine fuels and Marpol Annex VI, which will start to be implemented from next year.

‘Bunkers – An Analysis Of The Practical, Technical And Legal Issues’ by Chris Fisher & Jonathan Lux. A full table of contents and sample pages from the world’s most authoritative book on bunker fuels are now available as PDFs.

Maritime training provider Videotel Marine International, with the support of leading international organisations including IMO, IACS and the ICS, has produced a training package to help ship operators, officers and crew understand the complexities of Marpol Annex VI.

The number of top speakers and delegates rushing to confirm their participation in this year’s IBIA Annual Convention in Hong Kong continues to grow as the 30 June deadline to register at the discounted Early Bird rate draws closer.

Lloyd’s Register EMEA is supporting the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association’s (Helmepa) Voluntary Refresher Training Programme for 2005, which will focus on the application of regulations for pollution prevention and maritime safety and security.

Singapore’s first local maritime degree programmes – Bachelor and Master of Science in Maritime Studies (Shipping) – offered by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and supported by Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), are officially launched by the Minister of State for Health and Transport, Dr Balaji Sadasivan.