Taking a step further and another milestone, Commercial Industrial Maritime Security Training Academy (CIMSTA), RALL the premier training institution of RAKNA had its first inaugural passing out closing ceremony of Sea Marshal Course No 1 conducted in affiliation with Mahapola Ports & Maritime Academy of Sri Lanka Ports Authority. With a perception of the Chairman of Rakna Major Dulath L Wijthileke ( Retd) the first Sea Marshal Course was planned and conducted from 18th June to 23rd July 2020 over a period of a month for the newly inducted Rakna Maritime cardres for making potentials for on board security team operations overseas.
CIMSTA Outsourcing of Training with Mahapola Ports & Maritime Academy,
RALL’s Maritime Division has up to date employed approximately over 600 highly trained most reputed professional Sea Marshals across the globe. RALL’s maritime division has determined for potential markets on effective employment of sea marshals with a heavy demand in the maritime security sector where the RALL is exploiting to meet the same immediately.
With the intension of enhancing the existing capacity of Sea Marshals employment meeting the demands that the RALL Maritime Division is envisaging, CIMSTA to be upgraded with its existing Maritime Training Division on maritime training for conduct of Sea Marshal training for obtaining CDC from Director General Merchant Shipping. However, obtaining the Maritime College approval for CIMSTA is time taking which is already in progress, CIMSTA visualized the combined training with the Mahapola Ports & Maritime Academy for obtaining of Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) which is a mandatory requirement for any sea marshal employment on board security team operations. Therefore, taking the demand and the requirement of Sea Marshal for fast employment, CIMSTA has joined forces with Mahapola Ports & Maritime Academy (MPHA) of Sri Lanka Ports Authority for facilitating training for Sea Marshals until the CIMSTA receiving the recognized maritime academy.
Memorandum of Understanding between MPHA and CIMSTA,
The CIMSTA has joined forces with MPHA for undertaking training on a MOU for a smooth process of effective training in mutual understand for the important mandatory short six training courses and using of training facilities and obtaining much valued professional resource persons for CIMSTA training in the long term.
Course Overview : Sea Marshal Course No 1,
Meeting the immediate demands envisaged by the RALL Maritime Security Division, the CIMSTA has commenced training for newly enlisted 25 Sea Marshals by MPHA for qualifying in obtaining the CDC for RALL Sea Marshals until the CIMSTA gets the fully qualification standards recognized by the DGMS.
Cost Effectiveness in Affiliated Training with MPHA,
RALL is a government and Ministry of Defence affiliated profit earning oriented private security agency and its Maritime Division contribute the major share in profit earnings through its maritime security employment sea marshal’s security operations. The expenses are very high and costly on training of Sea Marshals from private maritime security training agencies which the RALL had been doing over a period of time and with the affiliation to MPHA and standards achieving for CIMSTA as a Maritime College will definitely bring down huge cost involve in sea marshal training and also provide individual financial benefits for those Ex-servicemen employed in the RALL.
It is learnt that MPHA is a highly recognized professionally qualified eminent Maritime Training Academy in this region, having most advanced training facilities to offer the maritime industry trainees the highest acceptance in the employment market. “CIMSTA of RALL taking the much benefitted timely advantage of the offering on the MPHA training on meeting the immediate demand by the RALL’s Maritime Division Sea Marshals, CIMSTA has successfully completed training for 25 sea marshals making them potential for immediate overseas employment”.
As specified by the DGMS and the MPHA following mandatory maritime security related short courses were conducted which is an eligibility for obtaining of CDC;
Course 1: Maritime English Language Course Support Level
Course 2: Proficiency in Personal Survival Techniques (PPST) (SCTW)
Course 3: Proficiency in Elementary First Aid
Course 4: Proficiency in Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
Course 5: Proficiency in Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities (PPSSR) (SCTW)
Course 6: Proficiency in Security Awareness PPSA) Programme
MPHA being the pioneer institute in maritime and port related skills training in Sri Lanka, CIMSTA is privileged to affiliate with the MPHA as CIMSTA seeking most desire career prospective in the fields of maritime and ports in the future. In addition to the above specialized training, all the course participants were put through in a Maritime Trauma Medical Course as well.
Essential Medical Examinations for Sea Marshals,
All the participants were facilitated with a mandatory medical test certification required for the Sea Marshals who will be employed on board. Therefore, it is worked out for all the CIMSTA training and CIMSTA outsourced Sea Marshals to undergo medical examinations to reduce risks to other crew members and for the safe operation of the ship as well as to safeguard their personal health and safety. Therefore, the mandatory Medical Certification for the Sea Marshals as per the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on the International Convention on Standards of Training, certification for RALL Sea Marshals, have been associated with the Sri Lanka Government approved Medical Practitioner of “Medihouse” in Colombo. It is been coordinated and ensured that all the CIMSTA training Sea Marshals and CIMSTA outsourced Sea Marshal trainees’ medical certification are in accordance with the relevant applicable international standards.
Closing Ceremony with Passing out,
CIMSTA has held a well organized and arranged closing ceremony for all those 25 Sea Marshals trained in affiliation with MPHA on the 27th of July at CIMSTA Auditorium. After a month-long period of training, the closing ceremony was graced by the Rakna Chairman Major Dulath L Wijthileke ( Retd) as the Chief Guest and as a Guest of Honour Chairman Vocational Training Authority Mr Damith Wickramasinghe. The day was programmed with few events to mark as the first event of any nature that the CIMSTA had after the new top management taken over in January of 2020. The ceremony was elegantly organized with professional hands of the CIMSTA training and admin staff to give due recognition for the CIMSTA and value for the CDC certification for the trainees. A video clip covering all the training and administration aspect of the first course was screened to witness the audience which became very attractive. The programme was started with a welcome speech by the Director Training, CIMSTA Major General Aruna Jayasekera (Retd) and followed by the certificate and CIMSTA badge awarding programme. All the successful participants were awarded with following qualifications;
-Mahapola Ports & Maritime Academy Certified Certificate
-A highly recognized Ministry of Defence and Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka endorsed certification
-CIMSTA qualification lapel badge
-The CDC certificate for the trained sea marshals issued by the Director General Merchant Shipping of Sri Lanka
After a well arranged magnificent brief closing ceremony with vote of thanks by the Deputy Director training CIMSTA Colonel Pathmasiri Thalwaththa the event was winded up with the National Anthem.
Prepared by CIMSTA Training Wing
