I AM AFTER

Deciding what to do after A Levels? Why not sign up for a lifetime of adventure and accomplishment!

Do you love the ocean? Would you like to travel the world on the seven seas and make a great living out of it? Then a career in the merchant navy is for you and Mercmarine Training can equi you with the skills you need to make your dreams come true.

Mercmarine Training is the best merchant navy training academy in Sri Lanka and is passionate about building a strong force of Sri Lankan seafaring professionals. Globally and in Sri Lanka there is a shortage of personnel for positions on merchant vessels and Mercmarine Training can give you a world-class education and training to ensure that you are amongst the highest quality of prospective sailors our there.

Established in 1986, Mercmarine Training is part of the global maritime giant, Mercmarine Group. Originally set up to meet the group’s internal requirements, the Institute has now grown to train world-class seafarers to meet the demands of the entire global industry and is approved by the Merchant Shipping Secretariat of Sri Lanka and recognized internationally. Mercmarine Training has even obtained the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Certifications from DNVGL.

Mercmarine has two purpose built training facilities located in Colombo and the southern port city of Galle that provide world-class academic knowledge and hands on practical training skills. The Galle facility is a residential facility and provides accommodation for cadets as well. Both facilities are supported by highly qualified lecturers and technical instructors with operational ship handling experience.

Being a part of an existing maritime shipping empire, Mercmarine Training can draw on experience in ship ownership, management and operations along with crew management experience that spans over a century. This means that Mercmarine Training is always at the forefront of shipping technology and can provide guaranteed onboard practical training to its trainees, which is an essential requirement to finally qualify as a merchant navy officer.

So if you are after your London GCE Advanced Level Exams and looking to set yourself up for a lifetime of adventure and high paying career opportunities, contact Mercmarine Training via email at apply@mercmarine.net or call us on 011 7476100 or 076 9387477.

A seminar organised by The Nautical Institute Sri Lanka Branch in association with General Sir John Kotelawela Defence University, on "Maritime and Cyber Security for Sri Lanka and Criminalization of the Seafarer: What you need to know?" was held on the 2nd of March 2018 at General Sir John Kotelawela Defence University (KDU), Ratmalana from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm.

The topics covered in the seminar were:

• Criminalization of the Seafarer by Dr. Leslie Hemachandra - FNI
• ISPS & it's effects on Sri Lanka by Admiral Dr. J. Colombage - FNI
• Presentation by R. Admiral J. J. Ranasinghe - AFNI
• Cyber Security & Data Protection by Mr. Manjula Prabath
• The Law on Maritime Security in Sri Lanka by Dr. Dan Malika Gunasekera - MNI

The Merchant Shipping Secretariat – Ministry of Ports and shipping has taken the initiative to broaden the entry criteria for Merchant Navy Cadet Officer training to include GCE A/L Technology stream students, in a bid to create more opportunities for Sri Lankan youth to embark on lucrative seafaring careers. The entry criteria for Engineering and Navigation Cadet Officer training was previously open only to GCE A/L Mathematics and Bio Science stream students with emphasis on physics and math. With the newly introduced changes to the criteria, technology stream students who fulfill below minimum requirements are now eligible to enroll for Cadet Officer training.

• “S” pass for Engineering Technology & One other “S” pass.
• “S” pass for Bio Technology & “S” pass for science for technology.
• “S” pass Science for Technology' One other “S” pass.

“Recognizing G.C.E. A/L Technology students' merchant-navy-profession-now-open-to-gce-al-technology-stream-studenteligibility to pursue their Career as Merchant Navy Officers is a timely initiative by the Merchant Shipping Secretariat. As the foremost merchant navy training academy in the country, Mercmarine Training has always emphasized on the importance of building a strong force of Sri Lankan seafaring professionals. By creating more opportunities for our talented youth to pursue seafaring careers, we are correctly positioning our country to reap maximum benefits from the rapid growth of the industry. We are thankful to the Merchant Shipping Secretariat for making right and timely decisions and we hope to act on this and open the doors for more young blood to join this thriving industry,” remarked Captain Rohan Codippilly, COO, Mercmarine Group.

'The Education Ministry took the important initiative of introducing Technology as a subject to A/L s. This was with the aim of molding tech savvy youth, equipped with knowledge and skills to thrive in the modern technology driven world. Initially implemented in 200 schools, technology subjects are now taught to thousands of students around the country. The Merchant Shipping Secretariat's decision to open doors for technology students to pursue seafaring careers is an important milestone in realizing the full potential of Sri Lankan youth.

Mercmarine Training, in line with new changes made by the Merchant Shipping Secretariat, has extended registration deadlines for Navigation Cadet Officer and Engineering Cadet Officer intakes to accommodate technology stream students interested in the merchant navy profession. Thus, students who sat for their G.C.E. A/L examination in the technology stream and fulfilled the minimum requirements can now apply and register for the 2018 intake at Mercmarine Training. Those who wish to obtain more information regarding the courses can contact Mercmarine Training via e-mail: apply@mercmarine.net or by telephone: 011 7476100/0769 387477.

Mercmarine Training was established in 1986 as the training arm of the global maritime giant Mercmarine Group, in order to fulfill the group's internal requirements. The institute later proceeded to train world class seafarers to meet the demands of the entire industry as a Merchant Shipping Secretariat approved institute offering internationally recognized maritime education.

Mercmarine Training derives its' unique strengths as a maritime trainer from its' mother company, Mercmarine Group which has over 100 years of experience operating in the businesses of ship owning, ship management and crew management. This gives Mercmarine Training the ability to keep pace with advances in shipping technology and provide guaranteed onboard practical training to its trainees, which an important requirement to qualify as a merchant navy officer. Mercmarine Training has obtained the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Certification from DNVGL.

Are you one of those thousands of youth weighing options right now for the future of your life as a professional? If yours is an adventurous spirit and you have the thirst to explore the world, climbing up the career ladder in one of the world's most thriving industries at the same time, Merchant Navy is your best option. 90% of the world's global trade is still carried out via sea routes and behind the screen is this massive industry of maritime trade that literally runs the world from the sea. One significant incident that reminded most of us ashore of the importance of maritime trade and our dependence on it, was the recent fuel shortage in the country where the entire country was made to eagerly wait for the arrival of one important ship, 'Neverska Lady', which carried the fuel supply to end the shortage.

Sri Lanka's maritime industry is taking giant strides in growth and this is also creating tremendous career opportunities for the Sri Lankan youth both at sea and ashore alike. However, there's still relatively little awareness about these opportunities as the majority of the Sri Lankan youth seek careers in commonly sought after fields such as management, medicine or IT.

Merchant navy profession is widely regarded as one of the most lucrative career paths that also offer great opportunities for excitement and adventure for the youth. Employment and career success is guaranteed as the industry demand for skilled professionals continues to soar ever so high and unlike any other profession, one can reach the pinnacle of the career i.e. to become a ship's captain or a chief engineer earning a 7 digit salary, within a short period of time. As Sri Lanka's maritime industry is expected to expand in unprecedented ways, Merchant Navy professionals are in high demand for a large number of shore based careers as well. For example, Navigation Officers have great shore based career opportunities as Harbor Pilots, Marine Superintendents, Shipping Administrators, Port State Controllers, Harbour Masters and Maritime Educators. For Marine Engineers great shore based career opportunities exist in many areas such as Ships & Industrials Survey, Maintenance Engineering at star class hotels, power plants & ship repairing and construction.

However, it is also important to start your career from the right place as theoretical training, knowledge and most importantly the practical training onboard ships are essential for uninterrupted career progress in the merchant navy. As a Navigation Cadet Officer or Engineering Cadet Officer, one needs to complete the phases of theoretical and practical training on time without any delays to climb up the ladder successfully.

Mercmarine Training, established in 1986, is Sri Lanka's first privately owned merchant navy training institute and has been leading the country's maritime education ever since. Mercmarine Training was initially launched as the training arm of the globally renowned maritime giant Mercmarine Group, to fulfill the requirements within the group and later developed to produce world class seamen to meet the demands of an entire industry.

Mercmarine Training derives its' unique strengths as a maritime trainer from its' mother company, Mercmarine Group which has over 100 years of experience operating in the businesses of ship owning, ship management and crew management. This gives Mercmarine Training the ability to keep pace with advances in shipping technology and educate Cadets using the most innovative training solutions in the industry. The Institute is the ideal technologically advanced training center to help prospective seafarers apply their acquired skills to the real-world challenges of the marine environment.

Mercmarine Training is geared in training the officer cadets uninterruptedly to sail the world as Merchant Navy Officers. The institute achieve this by fulfilling the two most important requirements of the cadet training i.e. uncompromised shore based training and the opportunity for practical sea training on board a ship without any delays. The opportunity to sail on board a ship for practical training is essential to complete the studies as a Merchant Navy Officer and to obtain the Certificate of Competency (COC) as required by the Director General of Merchant Shipping (DGMS). Providing this opportunity is the responsibility of the training institute and Mercmarine Training holds unparalleled reputation in this regard.

Mercmarine Training’s lecture panel consists of some of the industry's most experienced professionals who take pride in sharing and presenting their knowledge using the most technologically advanced equipment. Many of Mercmarine Training's lecturers are Master Mariners & Chief Engineers with extensive sailing experience. As the forerunning maritime training institute, Mercmarine Training is aware that the key to successful training is based on how current your sailing experience is and for this reason the institute utilizes the services of Master Mariners & Chief Engineers who frequently sail in between their lecturing stints at the institute.

MERCMARINE Training is an approved maritime training institute by the Director General Merchant Shipping Sri Lanka (DGMS) and offers Certifications issued by the DGMS which are globally recognized. The institute sets very high standards for academics and professional development for the students and due to this cadets at Mercmarine Training are qualified to pursue their higher studies even abroad.

Those who wish to obtain more information regarding the courses and the scholarship program can contact Mercmarine Training via e-mail: apply@mercmarine.net or by telephone: 011 7476100/0769 387477.

The 23rd batch of Navigation Officer Cadets at Mercmarine Training recently passed out amidst much ceremony at the institute's training facility in Galle. The glamorous event was graced by Chief Guest Mrs. Sonia Lapointe, wife of the German ambassador in Sri Lanka, the officials of the Mercmarine Group, parents and well-wishers. The students were recognized with awards for their skills in various areas of study during the course; Cadet Gimhani Herath, was awarded the Dieter Dushner Challenger Shield for the “Best All-Round Navigation Officer Cadet”.

''It is indeed a great pleasure to see another batch of Navigation Officer Cadets passing out after successfully completing their first phase of training. It is even more gratifying to see a lady cadet to top the batch; a first for us. We firmly believe in the potential of Sri Lankan women to excel in careers at sea. Our heartiest wishes to Cadet Gimahani Herath on her achievement and the exemplary work'' said Thomas Kriwat, Chief Executive Officer, Mercmarine Group welcoming the guests.

Addressing the gathering, Mrs. Sonia Lapointe, the Chief Guest said ''I want to encourage bright, young people, especially women because so few have tried, to take this incredible opportunity and transform their future perspectives. It begins when you realize there is a place for you here; if you work hard, you belong here. I myself was in a male dominated environment some 35 years ago when I joined the Canadian Naval Reserves. I absolutely enjoyed training in a mixed crew and working on a ship; I learned so many things that I never would have learned in regular civilian life – particularly about myself”

Founded in 1986, Mercmarine Training has continually produced top notch Sri Lankan seafaring professionals and has been a key force in attracting young blood to the industry. Specializing in the areas of training for Navigational Officer Cadets, Engineering Officer Cadets, Deck Ratings, Engine Ratings and Catering Ratings providing an entry for young school leavers to a most rewarding career at sea.

Backed by the Mercmarine Group, one of the largest shipping groups in Sri Lanka with operations in ship owning, ship management, crew management and maritime training, Mercmarine Training is committed to continually raise awareness of the seafaring profession among the Sri Lankan youth and provide them training to purse rewarding careers.

Mercmarine Training, Sri Lanka’s foremost seafarer training institute, recently entered into a strategic partnership with the premier global classification society DNV-GL. Under the new partnership, Mercmarine Training will be eligible to provide DNV-GL courses at their training institute and DNV-GL will be able to provide Mercmarine Training courses to their students abroad. Representatives of both institutes signed a Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to the partnership in Colombo recently and were optimistic that the new partnership will pave the way for exchange of maritime training knowledge and adherence to the highest standards whilst broadening the scope of expertise of both organizations.

DNV-GL is one of the largest, oldest and most reputable internationally accredited Registrar and Classification Societies in the world. It was founded in 2013 following a merger between two of the world’s most prestigious classification societies, the Norwegian company Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and the German Company Germainscher Lloyd (GL).

Originally established to set technical standards to the maritime industry, today DNV-GL has expanded to incorporate multiple industries including renewable energy, oil and gas, electrification, food and beverages and healthcare. With a proud history of over 150 years, DNV-GL not only sets technical standards for the maritime industry but also offers over 150 maritime courses for seafarers across the world.

Speaking on the newly formed partnership, Michael McEvoy, Director Training at Mercmarine Training, commented ''DNV-GL is a global giant in classification in the maritime industry. Their history is as old as that of the modern maritime industry and as such we are proud of the new partnership we have formed with them. As the leading classification society in the world, DNV-GL only partners with those who match their standards and therefore, we at Mercmarine Training are proud of this recognition. We believe this partnership will achieve tremendous benefits for both parties and moreover significantly raise the standards of maritime education in the country'' Also commenting on the new partnership, Marijan Samardzic, Area Manager for DNV-GL Sri Lanka said, ''We are proud to have entered into this strategic partnership with Mercmarine Training. As one of the largest classification societies in the world that sets standards for the global maritime industry, we were highly impressed by Mercmarine Training's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of maritime training and had no hesitation in entering into this partnership. We believe this new partnership will mark the beginning of a whole new phase of maritime training in Sri Lanka''

Founded in 1986, Mercmarine Training is the oldest privately owned seamen training institute in Sri Lanka specializing in the training of Navigational Officer Cadets, Engineering Officer Cadets, Deck Rating, Engine Rating and Catering Ratings at the entry level for the seafaring profession. The institute offers a host of professional courses required by the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (or STCW) which sets the qualification standards for that are mandatory for seafarers and watch personnel on seagoing merchant ships. They also design and deliver bespoke non-seafaring courses related to leadership, management and ‘soft skills’. These courses improve both the individual and organizational performance and capability.

Mercmarine Training is part of the Mercmarine Group, one of the largest shipping group of companies, Mercmarine Training has pioneered many innovative initiatives in the field of merchant seafarer training whilst always adhering to the highest global standards. Mercmarine Training has also obtained the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Certifications from DNV-GL and is a City & Guilds (UK) Approved training centre delivering Catering & Housekeeping related training programs.

Mercmarine Training is Propelled by Passion and Passionate about People.

Mercmarine Training, Sri Lanka’s foremost merchant seamen training institute, presented scholarships worth Rs. 2 million to two female cadet applicants, Ms. Koshila Herath and Ms. Sonali Jayarathne, at an event held in Colombo, recently. The scholarship winners were selected from over 50 applicants, based on their scores and performance during the entry selection process for the intake concluded in March 2017 and were officially awarded by Hon. Arjuna Ranatunga, Minister of Ports and Shipping in the presence of officials from Mercmarine Training and Mr. Shashi Dhanathunge, Chairman of Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd.

Mercmarine Training’s special scholarship programme was launched in line with their 30th anniversary in November last year in a bid to encourage more females to take up careers in the merchant navy. The awarded scholarships were worth Rs. 1 million each and covered 90% of the course fee for the first phase of the Cadet Officer programme in the Navigation or Engineering department at Mercmarine Training.

Commending Mercmarine Training's efforts to promote rewarding careers at sea among Sri Lankan women, Hon. Arjuna Ranatunga, Minister of Ports and Shipping, said ''Merchant seafaring is one of the most rewarding career paths available to the Sri Lankan youth today. Unfortunately, due to lack of awareness most youth tend to overlook this great career path in favor of more common and most sought after professions. There's a great potential for Sri Lankan merchant navy personnel to grow professionally at a global level and immensely contribute to the economic growth of the country. I congratulate the two young women on winning these scholarships and wish them good luck in their exciting careers. At the same time, I would like to thank Mercmarine Training for their unwavering commitment to promote this profession among Sri Lankan youth, specially the females.''

'As the foremost seamen training institute in the country, we have always kept pace with the changing industry trends at a global level. Hence, we have been aware of the increasing demand for female seafaring professionals globally. Many international organizations including the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have extensively discussed the advancement of women through maritime professions in both shore-based and sea-going posts. This scholarship programme is an unprecedented initiative and we are happy to see it yielding desired results. We earnestly hope more Sri Lankan female youth would follow the footsteps of Koshila Herath and Sonali Jayarathne and make most of the great career opportunities available to them in the merchant navy'' said Captain Rohan Codippily, COO, Mercmarine Group.

Founded in 1986, Mercmarine Training has continually produced top notch Sri Lankan seafaring professionals and has been a key force in attracting young blood to the industry. Specializing in the areas of training Navigational Officer Cadets, Engineering Officer Cadets, Deck Ratings, Engine Ratings and Catering Ratings at the entry level for the seafaring profession, Mercmarine Training has pioneered many initiatives in the field such as the scholarship programme for female cadets.

Backed by the Mercmarine Group, one of the largest shipping groups of companies, Mercmarine Training intends to continually raise awareness about the merchant seafaring profession among the Sri Lankan youth and provide them with unprecedented opportunities to embark on successful careers.

Lanka Academy emerged champions at the 9th Mercmarine Premier League soft ball Cricket tournament defeating REF in a thrilling final at the Malay Grounds in Colombo, recently. K.S.I. Indika and Vimukthi Jayamanna played anchor roles in Lanka Academy's winning feat in a match dominated by the batsmen.

The Mercmarine Premier League, considered the most popular sporting event among the seafaring community of Sri Lanka, saw 26 teams take part in this year’s tournament. Lanka Academy entered the finals as the champion of Group A whilst REF team entered finals from the Group B. The REF team elected to bat first, after winning the toss and posted a whopping 69 runs for 2 wickets in 5 overs. REF's C.J. Ariyasingha who was in exceptional form contributed significantly to the tally of his team. Lanka Academy, chasing a challenging target of 70 runs in 5 overs, was initially given a stifling time by the REF bowlers but the seasoned Lanka Academy batsmen were strong enough to handle the pressure. Lanka Academy's winning run came in the 3rd ball of the 5th over off K.S.I. Indika's bat.

C.J. Ariyasingha of REF was adjudged the best batsman whilst K.S.I. Indika of Lanka Academy was recognized as the best bowler of the series. Vimukthi Jayamanna of Lanka Academy was awarded the Man of the Series Award. Mercmarine Premier League organizing committee rewarded the winning team with a cash prize of Rs.50,000/= whilst the runner up was rewarded with a cash prize of Rs. 25,000/=.

The Mercmarine Premier League is the most popular sporting event in the Sri Lankan seafaring community's calendar. Organized for the first time in 2009 by Mercmarine Group's Sport and Welfare Society, the tournament quickly became an annual event creating an opportunity for Sri Lankan seafarers to come together to celebrate the spirit of cricket. The 9th edition of the Mercmarine Premier League saw the participation of 26 teams representing, educational institutes, Master Mariners, shipping companies and service suppliers such as banks and insurance companies compete in the tournament.

Mercmarine Training, one of Sri Lanka’s foremost maritime training institutes and member of the renowned Mercmarine Group, recently announced the launch of a special scholarship programme for female officer cadet applicants. The announcement of the program was in line with the celebration of 30 successful years’ and is a testament to their continued dedication and excellence in maritime training at Mercmarine Training since 1986.

The programme seeks to reward two of the top scoring female cadets at the selection process for a scholarship program up to LKR 1,000,000. This initiative by Mercmarine Training marks yet another milestone in shaping careers of the young and dynamic Sri Lankan youth.

Speaking on this landmark initiative, Mr. Thomas Kriwart Chief Executive Officer of the Mercmarine Group said, “In our 30 years of successful operation in Sri Lanka, Mercmarine Training has continued to produce top notch seafarers and maritime personalities through the institute’s world-class training courses. We have continued to push forward with time; providing the best of quality training to cadets across the island. Accordingly, we acknowledge the recent increase in demand for more women in the maritime industry, particularly in leadership roles and have thus introduced this programme to attract more local female talent. We believe that this will enable women to train alongside men and so acquire the high-level of competence that the maritime industry demands today.”

In recent years, global organizations including the IMO (International Maritime Organization) have held several conferences to discuss the advancement of women throughout maritime professions in both shore-based and sea-going posts. This unique scholarship programme is an unprecedented initiative that will be open to all female cadets applying for Engineering or Deck Cadet Courses. The institute will select the top two applicants who demonstrate the highest skills with the best scores, to be eligible for the 90% grant of the phase 01 tuition fee in which ever discipline they select.

Amidst their scholarship programme announcement and the thirtieth year anniversary celebrations, Mercmarine Training warmly welcomed newly appointed Director Training, Michael Mcevoy, to the establishment. Mr. Mcevoy served in the British military and will be instrumental in offering invaluable training and knowledge to the students through his expertise and experience.

Chief Operating Officer of the Mercmarine Group of Companies, Captain Rohan Codippily stated, “It is with joy that we look back on our three decade long journey and recollect the contribution our graduates have made to the field, not only here in Sri Lanka but in the international arena as well. I am also proud to announce the inclusion of Mr. Michael Mcevoy as the institute’s official Training Director. I strongly believe that Michael will be an effective addition to our team and will fast-track our plans of expansion to shape well-rounded seafarers with an extra edge in their careers.”

Commenting on his recent appointment, Mr. Mcevoy said, “With over 30 years of experience, Mercmarine training has understood that all training should be relevant, timely and informative. Accordingly, our training promotes the desire to achieve greatness and ensures that the seeds you sew today will reap tremendous benefits tomorrow; for the seafarer, for organisations and for the maritime industry. I am excited to embark on this journey and am confident that we will continue to produce world class professionals in the years to come.”

Mercmarine Training plans to expand and further upgrade the institute, their courses and training programmes in the near future in order to offer their students the best facilities and a quality education in the careers they wish to pursue in the shipping field. Those who wish to obtain more information regarding the courses and the scholarship programme can contact Mercmarine Training via e-mail: apply@mercmarine.net or by telephone: 011-7476100 / 076-9387477.

MERCMARINE Training, formerly Mercantile Seamen Training Institute (MSTI Galle), was founded in 1986. It specializes in training and development of students in the fields of Navigational Officer Cadets, Engineering Officer Cadets, Deck Rating, Engine Rating and Catering Rating as an entry level for the seafaring profession. Particularly in the under Engineering, the courses offered include, Engineering Class III, Engineering Class II, Engineering Class I, Engine Room Management level and Engine Room Operational level. All courses are approved by the Director General’s Office of Merchant Shipping (DGMS) - Ministry of Ports and Highways of Sri Lanka, the government appointed authority for all maritime related training in the country. The Training arm has also obtained the ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Certifications from DNV and also operates as a City & Guilds (UK) approved training centre for its Catering & Housekeeping related training programs.

As part of their continued endeavour to promote the local shipping and maritime industry, Mercmarine Training recently hosted the students of Nalanada College, Colombo, at their state of the art facility in Maradana. Students of the Association of Marine Engineering and Nautical Science of Nalanda College were thus given a well-rounded and practical demonstration of equipment and theories that stimulated the realities of the shipping world, by the well experienced panel of lecturers of the Institute .

“At Mercmarine Training, we have always dedicated resources to inspire and guide the youth in choosing a rewarding and adventurous career path in the shipping industry. We have understood that our local talent pool of gifted youth is relatively unaware of the multitude of career opportunities that are available in the merchant navy. Therefore, we believe that building a strong workforce of maritime professionals could significantly benefit the economy. Mercmarine Training has always extended support to youth associations like Nalanda College's Association of Marine Engineering and Nautical Science to build a young generation of passionate seafarers,” emphasised Lalindra Fernando, Business Development Manager at Mercmarine Training.

The group of passionate Nalandians participated in the training at the “Engine Room Simulator” of the facility, slated to be the best and most advanced in the country. The room replicates operations of a ship's engine room, enabling them to do the job training without damaging the environment or the equipment. Furthermore, experienced lecturers educated the students on the technicalities of managing the equipment in addition to the theories that go hand in hand with it.

The Association of Marine Engineering and Nautical Science of Nalanda College, Colombo remains the only student association catering to young marine enthusiasts at a school level in the entire South Asian region. Founded in 2013 under the guidance of Mr.Ranjith Jayasundara, the visionary principal of Nalanda College, Colombo, this association aims to provide enthusiastic students with related education as an extra-curricular programme. Mr.Ranjith Jaysundara's inspiration to initiate this was sparked from schools in Japan where marine science is effectively used to boost the country’s economy.

“As the leading provider of maritime education and training in Sri Lanka, Mercmarine Training continues to raise awareness of the endless career opportunities at sea, that could in turn create a young generation of passionate seafarers who ultimately contribute to the development of the industry at large. We are therefore delighted to help these enthusiastic youngsters in their quest to pursue their dreams. Mercmarine Training would like to invite all schools interested in initiating similar projects to contact us at any time”, Mr. Fernando further added.

Mercmarine Training has committed itself to work in collaboration with interested schools, extending them with the guidance and support needed to set up these associations which will facilitate career paths for students in the future. Schools can contact the Mercmarine Training administration via post: Manjula Vitharane, Mercmarine Training, No 696/4, Maradana Road, Colombo 10, e-mail: manjulav@mercmarine.net or by telephone: 011 7476100.

Mercmarine Training offers the best available training facilities catering to the merchant navy in the areas of Navigational Officer Cadets, Engineering Officer training, Deck Rating, Engine Rating and Catering Rating training. The institute upholds the belief that professionalism, skill and knowledge moulds a seafarer for a successful career and thus provides the idea environment to pursue a career at sea. The assistance and advice received from their experienced faculty has been a major factor that contributed immensely to its success.

The Catering Training department of MERCMARINE Training secured a 100 percent pass rate at the City & Guilds (UK) Diploma in Culinary Arts. The exam which was held in July was the first City & Guilds examination faced by students of the Training Centre, since the Institute obtained the status of a ‘City & Guilds (UK) Approved Training Centre’. The highlight was that all students who successfully completed the Diploma received a minimum of a Merit pass mark at the exam.

Commending the achievement, Mufthy Hashim, Regional Director of City & Guilds South Asia said, “We are really impressed with the quality of students put forward for our culinary exams by MERCMARINE Training. The 100 percent pass rate achieved at the recently concluded exams amplify MERCMARINE’s commitment to training their catering stewards to achieve world class standards”

MERCMARINE Training, formally known as MSTI Galle was the first Maritime Institute to offer Marine Catering Training for sailing cooks. We have recognized the need for specialized Marine Catering Training and our facilities have been designed to provide an authentic experience, resembling a galley on-board any cargo ship. Our Training facility is developed with a fully-fledged kitchen department as well as a star-class mock hotel room.

The MLC 2006 Catering certification, which was made a mandatory requirement since August 2013 is another leading Catering qualification offered for sailing cooks at MERCMARINE Training. MERCMARINE was the first institute to provide the MLC 2006 Catering certification and we now have produced over 300 certified chefs who have followed the Training program here at MERCMARINE. Our program is spread over a duration of six weeks, consisting of 52 practical sessions where students learn essential procedures such as, proper storage, waste disposal and food preparations, and are educated on the influences of culture in food preparation.

MERCMARINE Training offers the globally recognized City & Guilds accreditation for students who wish to pursue successful maritime careers in the Catering department. The City & Guilds (UK) Diploma in Culinary Arts conducted at MERCMARINE Training is a highly comprehensive program spread over the course of six months. Students who enroll for this program will undergo extensive training in food preparation and housekeeping, as our training structure includes both theory and practical hands on experience to teach with maximum effectiveness. This certificate can serve as the stepping-stone to a successful career in Catering, giving the candidate flexibility to work both ashore or at sea depending on their choice.

The Logos Hope is operated by GBA Ships Germany and its mission is to take books, education, and community outreach around the world. The ship was docked in the Colombo port and was open for the public during the last couple of weeks. Carrying more than 5000 book titles and measuring more than 430 feet long, the Logos Hope is the world’s largest floating bookstore.

An international crew and staff of volunteers live and work on the ship. Teams from the ship go into surrounding areas to supply aid and community care. In each port, the ship's crew partners work with local community groups to bring hope and show love to people whatever their circumstance, culture or background.

Mercantile Seamen Training Institute (MSTI) was the chosen maritime training partner that helped the Logos crew and the Course development manager Capt. George Both when undergoing the safety training program conducted to handle a fire on board.

Capt. George Both had this to say about his experience at MSTI, “in this past week, I arranged for a group of thirty-two people to undertake the STCW Basic Fire-Fighting Course at the MSTI school in Galle. The course was conducted over two and a half days and we stayed in accommodation arranged by the school."

"Over this period we found all the staff and students at the school to be extremely kind, generous with their time and helpful beyond any expectations."

Their pride in the facility and passion for passing on essential knowledge to new entrants to the merchant marine was a real encouragement for us all. The hospitality of the galley trainees and the quality of their work made for very contented students amongst us. We would certainly want to make use of this facility when the opportunity arises".

MSTI, the maritime training arm of MERCMARINE group of companies joined hands with City & Guilds to further strengthen their training portfolio. The collaboration is MSTI’s pledge of dedication & commitment to provide the best training platform in the country. City & Guild accreditation will widen MSTI’s catering training horizons to the hotel sector as well. This will provide opportunities for students who seek employment both ashore in the hotel sector or at sea either on cargo or passenger ships.

(Present in the picture from left, Mr. Farrhath Thyib, Principal MSTI Ltd., Capt. Keith Jayasuriya GM MSTI Ltd., Mr. Mufthy Hashim Regional Manager - South Asia City & Guilds, Mr. Fahim Shaookr GM Business Development City & Guilds)

City and Guilds has been in SL for over 80 years and offer over 80 vocational qualifications in the country. We young people to get jobs in the vocational arena. Our main areas or education in this region are Engineering, Hospitality and Catering,Hair and Beauty and office skills development. Our revamped Cookery qualifications held in high esteem around the world as they are created to cater to the current trends/ requirements in the market. The cookery qualifications come with its own student/ tutor portal where students and lectures can download their study material and even watch videos the areas of study explained Mr. Fahim Shaookr GM Business Development City & Guilds.

This is yet another milestone in the pioneering journey of MSTI that stretches for more than 26 years. MSTI was set up on the seafront in the picturesque port city of Galle with German collaboration. Furthermore it is an ISO 9001:2000 accredited institute that has been awarded the prestigious award “Dedication & commitment in Maritime Training and Excellence” in the years 2012 and 2013.

MERCMARINE Training formally known as MSTI Galle, has a marine training history of more than 35 years. The training institute was established in 1986 with German collaboration and is the first privately owned maritime training institute in the country. MERCMARINE Training is a part of MERCMARINE group of companies & the group operates as a Ship owner, Crew manager & Maritime trainer.

At MERCMARINE Training we are focused on training officer cadets to sail the world as Merchant Navy Officers. There are two main areas required for an officer cadet to succeed as Merchant Navy Officers. They receive unparalleled training and the opportunity to undergo practical sea training on board a ship without any delay to complete their studies as a Merchant Navy Officer up to Certification of Competency (COC).

MERCMARINE Training’s lecture panel consists of many Master Mariners & Chief Engineers. These highly qualified professionals possess extensive sailing experience. The key to successful training in the marine field is based on the sailing experience and the currency of your sailing experience. For this reason the institute has recruited Master Mariners & Chief Engineers who frequently sail. This ensures that the cadet officers get the most up to date training when they are at MERCMARINE Training. This is of great importance when they sail as cadet officers on board having to deal with most of the latest technology available. With the cadet’s training exposure they will be able to excel in their performance on board and impress their prospective employers while they sail as Cadet Officers.

The second and the most important element to complete the training as a Merchant Navy Officer is the opportunity to sail onboard a ship to complete the practical sea training required as indicated on the career chart. Providing this onboard practical sea training until the cadet’s obtain their certificate of competency (COC) is the responsibility of the training institute.

Many students encounter difficulties at this stage as a result of the unavailability of on board sea training opportunities that should be provided by their selected training institute. In certain instances trainees remain unemployed for over 24 months. This results in frustration, financial loss and a complete loss of hope in a career as a Merchant Navy Officer.

At MERCMARINE Training our well crafted selection process will ensure that only the best and most suitable candidates for the Merchant Navy Officer training program are selected. This is a benefit of being part of the MERCMARINE Group of Companies. As mentioned above, the group’s business interests as a ship owner and crew manager have given direct access to practical sea training opportunities. This gives the cadets the opportunity to sail among the best shipping companies in the world.

MERCMARINE Training is a maritime training institute approved by the Director General Merchant Shipping Sri Lanka (DGMS) and offers Certifications issued by the DGMS which are globally recognized. The institute sets very high standards for academics and professional development for students. This is evident as the Company was the recipient of the prestigious Lloyd’s List Salute to Maritime Excellence Award for Commitment for Training and also has been the winner of the Seatrade Training and education awards consecutively in 2012 and 2013. Further the training institute is a City & Guild’s UK approved training center and has obtain ISO certification to ensure the delivery of quality training.

Gone are the days shipping required demanding physical strength to work onboard. Today, with the rapidly advancing naval technology and computerized, automated vessels which are so mechanically advanced that they make life on board more easy & the running of ships, more efficient. Hence one would need training which is technologically advanced to cope with these changes that are taking place in the current global fleet of ships.

The sole commitment towards maritime training and the far-thinking training strategies at MERCMARINE, have resulted in bringing in one of the most advanced marine engine simulators to Sri Lanka. This style of learning environment offered at MERCMARINE will enable our Sri Lankan youth to be trained in a well-equipped training facility preparing them for the challenges present in the Merchant Navy globally.

The marine engine simulator housed at MT, is from Transsas a world renowned maker of such equipment. Transsas technology is present on most vessels thereby giving the student hands-on stimuli during the training program at MT. Transsas TECH SIM 5000 is one of the most advanced in its kind & MT is one of the first in the region to house such a simulator for the benefit of the Sri Lankan youth.

The simulator is capable of demonstrating real life engine room problems that may occur at sea followed by impacts of such on other sub elements of the engine. The simulation ability of this simulator is immense to the level where most of the nuts and bolts of the engine can be removed on a 3D visual, projected from the simulator which is also 360 degree rotatable.

MERCMARINE Training is all set to embark on their latest venture in bringing state-of-the-art maritime training facilities to Sri Lanka. As such, the institute will inaugurate a Marine engine room simulator, which is the latest version of ‘Transas’, model 5000 TECHSIM, full mission—slated to be the best and most advanced engine room simulator in the country.

In line with this new project, Mercmarine Training has formed its own Marine Engineering Training department and will be introducing the full scope of marine engineering training programs, i.e. from Cadets to Marine Chief Engineers. They have invested in human resources, teaching aids, infrastructure and upgrading of the workshops to offer the best available training facilities for all levels of training.

All programs that Mercmarine Training offers will be as per the guidelines set by the Office of Director General of Merchant Shipping Sri Lanka and will exceed the minimum standards set by International Maritime Organization on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping. The assistance and advice they got from the Office of Director General of Merchant Shipping from the stages of planning to implementation had been a major factor that contributed immensely to the success of the project so far.

Mercmarine Training’s prize possession is the Full Mission Engine Room Simulator that has been installed in their City Campus in Colombo 10. After a careful study of the many available simulator solutions, they decided to procure the Transas Techsim ERS 5000, Full Mission Engine Room Simulator System, which is the most modern and advanced system on offer by Transas. Transas is the global leader in Marine Simulation Solutions.

Their faculty which comprises of very experienced Marine Chief Engineers have undergone the Instructors Training under Transas Senior Expert Mr. Valery Eikhonov and are able to deliver the full scope of functions of the simulation system. Once, Mercmarine Training commissions the simulator, they intend to offer Engine Room Simulator courses that are mandatory for certificate of competency courses at both operational and management levels. In addition they will also offer Engine Room Team Management/ Engine Room Resource Management Courses. All these courses will have the approval of the Government of Sri Lanka and meet the International Maritime Organization’s standards for training.

Furthermore, Mercmarine Training will be able to cater custom designed courses for Ship owners and Ship Managing companies. “I am very pleased to say that one of the largest and well reputed ship owning and management company from Germany has positively indicated their willingness to train their engineer officers at our facility which in past was done in their own training centre in Germany,” said Farrhath Thyib – Principal, Mercmarine Training “Moreover, I believe that having a fully-fledged modern training facility will benefit Sri Lankan seafarers and also those who are aspiring to embark on this lucrative career. It also gives our maritime education and training industry more stature as a nation.”

He further revealed, “Finally, I think it is worth mentioning/reminding that we are well known in Sri Lanka and internationally for our commitment to quality training and our new launching of marine engineering training will have the same values. Thus, who are trained by us will have great employability options, similar to all those who have undergone training in other maritime disciplines with us”.

MERCMARINE Training, formerly Mercantile Seamen Training Institute (MSTI Galle), was founded in 1986 as the first privately owned maritime training institute in the country & now operates from No. 696/4, Maradana Road, Colombo 10 (Opposite Ananda College) & No. 02, Custom Road, Galle (Adjoining the Rampart). MERCMARINE Training specializes in training and development of local youth in the fields of Navigational Officer Cadets, Engineering Officer Cadets, Deck Rating, Engine Rating & Catering Rating as an entry level for the seafaring profession. Particularly in the under Engineering, the courses offered include, Engineering Class III, Engineering Class II, Engineering Class I, Engine room management level and Engine room operational level. All courses offered are approved by the Director General’s Office of Merchant Shipping (DGMS) – Ministry of Ports and Highways of Sri Lanka who is the government appointed single authority for all maritime related training in the country. The Training arm has also obtained the ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Certifications from DNV and also operates as a City & Guilds (UK) approved training center for it’s Catering & Housekeeping related training programs. For more information regarding MERCMARINE Training please contact 011 7476100.

MERCMARINE Training was awarded The Maritime Education and Training Award by The Maritime Standard (TMS) at the recently concluded TMS Awards. The ceremony was held in Dubai this November under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group. The award was presented by Mr. Tarik Al-Junaidi, Deputy CEO, Oman Shipping Company S.A.O.C. to Mr. Thomas Kriwat, CEO, of MERCMARINE Group of Companies who represented the Training arm during the esteemed ceremony. Mr. Trevor Pereira, Managing Director, The Maritime Standard was also present during the ceremony.

The award ceremony acknowledges the best in shipping & maritime specific operations within the Middle Eastern region and Indian Subcontinent. This is one of the most prestigious awards held in the region in which only the best are awarded for their dedication and commitment to the industry. The panel of judges includes many key personalities from the maritime industry in the region. An intense screening process is implemented to short list and choose the winners. The Maritime Standard Awards is organized by Flagship Events a home grown company for the region. The awards is organized by a team that has been based in the region for many years and who is committed to its continued success. MERCMARINE Training emerged as the winner from a panel of four acclaimed finalists, which included AMET University, DNV GL and Tolani Maritime Institute. MERCMARINE Training was able to prove its prowess to its competitors in the Middle East & Indian Subcontinent Shipping & Maritime sector with their excellent training facilities and curriculum.

Commenting on this accolade Capt. Keith Jayasuriya said, “It’s a great achievement for us to secure the award in the Maritime Education & Training representing the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent. Dubai is considered to be the hub of maritime trade in the Middle East. The participants were all high profile personnel in the shipping industry and I am glad that we at MERCMARINE Training were able to represent Sri Lanka in such a prestigious forum. I am also pleased that we were able to secure this award after competing with many other prestigious Maritime training institutes in the region.”

MERCMARINE Training formerly known as Mercantile Seamen Training Institute (MSTI Galle) was founded in 1986 as the first privately owned maritime training institute in the country & now operates from No. 696/4 Maradana road, Colombo 10 (opposite Ananda college) & No 02 Custom road Galle (adjoining the rampart). MERCMARINE Training specializes in training and development of local youth in the fields of Navigational Officer Cadets, Engineering Officer Cadets, Deck Rating, Engine Rating & Catering Rating as an entry level for the seafaring profession. These courses are followed by other courses such as STCW 2010 short courses, Simulator courses, MLC 2006 courses and many other industry specific courses. All courses offered have been approved by the Director General’s Office of Merchant Shipping (DGMS) – Ministry of Ports and Highways of Sri Lanka, the sole authority appointed by the government for maritime related training in the country. The Training arm has also obtained the ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Certifications from DNV and also operates as a City & Guilds (UK) approved training center for it’s Catering & Housekeeping related training programs. For more information regarding MERCMARINE Training please contact 011 7476100.