Dr. Al Nuaimi to Inaugurate MARACAD 2016

His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development, Chairman of the Federal Transport Authority – Land and Maritime will inaugurate MARACAD 2016 the Maritime Academic Conference and Expo next Tuesday 20th September 2016 at Sheikh Maktoum Hall, Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

MARACAD 2016, which is organized by Cham Events, has been enabled through a high level strategic partnership with the Dubai Maritime City Authority. It includes participation by some of the maritime sector’s most revered education and training experts and specialists in the world, who have been brought together to discuss issues related to the development of the capabilities of the human element engaged in the shipping and offshore industries.

This year’s MARACAD is being supported through the sponsorship of Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPS) as a Diamond Sponsor, and by the Gold Sponsorship of Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC), Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies (JAMS), Red Sea Marine Management (RSMM), King Abdulaziz University (KAU), The Australian College of Kuwait (ACK), and TASNEEF, with Silver Sponsorship coming from American Bureau of Shipping, and additional Sponsorship given by Panama Maritime Authority and All Offshore.

Captain Hussam Suyyagh, the conference director, said: “During two days, 20 and 21 of September, several specialized sessions will be held to discuss the shipping community’s key issues, with the participation of international and regional maritime academic institutions, and maritime navigation companies, to address modern training methods and enhancement of academic programs, and how to attract the new generation of seafarers by guiding them to a reliable career.”

Captain Suyyagh noted that MARACAD participants will have the chance to address several topics, including the integration of information technology and environmental sustainability in the maritime industry, adding that the event will provide an ideal platform for a constructive dialogue that seeks to establish strategic partnership to serve education and maritime training development.

He said that the second edition of MARACAD’s conference would include an exhibition, at which several international and regional maritime education and training institutes, academies, and other maritime companies will be able to showcase what they can offer to participants, students, and visitors.

In this context, Dr. Alia Al Hussein, Director General of Cham Events, the Official Organizer of MARACAD 2016, said: "The shipping world is currently experiencing tremendous technological development, making it imperative to move on from traditional education and training methods, towards the more modern and sophisticated techniques which event delegates and participants are seeking.”

Dr. Alia explained that MARACAD had established itself as a strategic platform for which the maritime academic institutions community meet, in order to find the optimum ways to support the human element in the maritime industry through modern education and training.

A special Awards ceremony will be held during MARACAD 2016 to honor leaders from various sectors of the maritime industry, chosen by a nominated and highly qualified Judging Panel equipped to identify the most deserving academies and companies.

The event is also expected to witness the signing of vital agreements between academies and cooperation arrangements with technology companies in the offshore industry.

The conference will comprise six panel discussions covering the following topics: Maritime human resources - today and tomorrow; LNG bunkering and training challenges; Offshore industry human resources and new technology; Environmental sustainability in the marine industry; the management of human resources in the ports sector; and Information Technology integration within the maritime industry.