BATAM ISLAND, where the shipyards of Drydocks World, Jaya, ASL Marine, Otto Marine and Marco Polo Marine sit, now has a technical school for training yard personnel.
Drydocks World SEA’s Batam Training Center was officially opened by Mr Ismeth Abdullah, the governor of Riau Islands, which includes the Batam, Bintan, and Karimun Free Trade Zones.
”The S$4-million Batam Training Center is designed with facilities for training about 200-250 apprentices in shipyard disciplines at any time,” said Mr Mark Biggs, managing director of Drydocks World SEA, during the opening ceremony on Mon.
It looks like shipbuilding and offshore engineering services of Batam yards is going to be taken a notch up - the management of Drydocks World SEA intends to make the facility available to other yards which are part of the Batam Shipyard and Offshore Association.
The first of these will be a 5-day “Managing Safety” course in late Nov that is certified by UK’s Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.
Including its yard in Singapore, Drydocks World SEA has a gross yard size of 144 ha, the largest in Southeast Asia.
Its 3 major yards are on Batam, which is home to 26 industrial parks and is a major offshore engineering construction centre.
Drydocks World SEA is also starting an Apprenticeship Scheme for new employees in Jan 2010 that will give young school-leavers a head start in a career in shipbuilding, ship repair and offshore fabrication.
Related story: DRYDOCKS WORLD-SEA delivers 5 vessels from Batam yards
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