An agreement was signed by Sohar Industrial Port Company (SIPC)/ Sohar Port Special Projects (SPSP) for the usage of new hitech simulators at the International Maritime College of Oman (IMCO).

Imco, a joint venture between the Sultanate and the STC Group of Rotterdam, described the pact as an important step for the future of the Port of Sohar and the maritime college.

Imco Dean Dr Ali Amer Al Maqrashi and the director of STC group Holding Albert Bos was joined by Port of Sohar CEO Jan H. Meijer and SIPC/SPSP board member Han Ligteringen at the signing ceremony.

The agreement was inked in the presence of Imco chairman and undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communication Said Hamdoon Al Harthy and the SPSP head Edwin van Espen.

Imco offers services in many ways and they are reflected in their extensive simulator complex which is unique in terms of size and set-up, said college dean Dr Ali Amer.

It is used to familiarize people in training with the entire transport chain from door to door. Simulators are an unsurpassed resource for acquiring skills and enhancing competence, he explained.

In total there are four ship-(bridge) simulators, three engine room simulators, a global maritime distress safety system simulator, simulators for cargo and crane handling, a chemical plant simulator, power plant simulator and unique transport chain simulator.

Imco is the only college in the GCC region with such facilities, said Dr Ali Amer.

Imco's Dutch partner, the STC-Group has more than 25 years experience providing and innovative learning environment for students in the maritime, transport and oil and gas industries, the official said.

STC is a world-wide strategic combination of education, training, research, consultancy and implementation service providers for the entire shipping, port, transport and logistics chain, as well as for the port-related petrochemical industries.

"The training program will make use of these advanced simulators in order to train the marine personal involved such as marine pilots, tug boat masters, port control officers and terminal operators. The complete project of drafting procedures and the training will take around five months," he added.-TradeArabia News Service