Topaz Marine KSA, a subsidiary of Topaz Energy and Marine, and the King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah have joined forces to offer training to cadets from the university which allows them to operate as officers onboard sea going vessels.

Topaz Marine is the first and currently only offshore support vessel business in Saudi Arabia to sign a letter of intent with the King Abdul Aziz University, a statement said.

The company has been working with cadets from the university during their ‘sea-training’ period since the beginning of 2015. This training period is a mandatory requirement for all cadets in a Bachelor of Science programme, the statement said.

The King Abdul Aziz University is fully accredited by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Transport, which ensures that all maritime training programmes meet the standards of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Topaz Marine has started intensive training programmes for its Saudi seafarers at the university in order to have them certified in accordance with the highest standards of the international maritime industry.

René Kofod-Olsen, CEO of Topaz Energy and Marine said: “We are convinced that with our expertise in the industry and our partnership with King Abdul Aziz University, we are able to offer our Saudi seafarers a unique and professional training and development program, so that they are prepared to take full advantage of future career opportunities in the offshore maritime industry.”

“Through the recruitment, education and training of enthusiastic Saudi youth according to world-class standards, Topaz is proud to be able to contribute significantly to the development of Saudi Arabia’s maritime potential.

“Topaz Marine is highly committed to this program and has initiated ‘Maritime Introduction Week’ for young Saudis to introduce them to life at sea onboard our vessels,” Kofod-Olsen added.

The certificates and subsequent licenses to work onboard a ship issued by the University will be acknowledged internationally, resulting in job security for Saudi seafarers both at home and abroad.

Following the Maritime Introduction Week, graduates can elect for Topaz Marine to train them professionally in close cooperation with the University and then enroll as professional seafarers onboard vessels in the Topaz fleet.

To cement this partnership, a letter of intent was signed in December last year in Jeddah during the certification ceremony of the first batch of Topaz’s Saudi trainees. – TradeArabia News Service