The establishment of a Marine Institute for Fujairah was discussed during high level meetings in the Emirate yesterday. His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah met with Dr. Tayeb A. Kamali Vice-Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology and Dr. Axel Meisen President and Vice-Chancellor of Memorial University, Canada.

Dr Tayeb A. Kamali, Vice-Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology and His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah

 Memorial University operates the largest Marine Institute in Canada and one of the largest in the world. Dr. Kamali and Dr. Meisen presented His Highness with an overview of planned education collaborations between HCT / CERT, Memorial University and the Government of Fujairah. Dr. Meisen reported that the Canadian Institute currently serves nearly 8,500 full time and part time students training to serve the marine sector as engineers, ships officers, port operators, harbor pilots, support vessel crew, hull designers and related occupations. Memorial�s Marine Institute has a Full Motion Ship Bridge Simulator, Ballast Control and Cargo Operations Simulator (MODU and Tanker operations), Dynamic Positioning and Propulsion Plant Simulator. The Institute uses these facilities to provide a broad range of simulation-based training and applied research services in ship navigation, marine engineering and ship communications.

His Highness Sheikh Hamad outlined his vision for a world class Marine Institute that will meet the needs of the GCC region. His Highness observed that the regional economy dominated by offshore oil and gas exploration projects and production facilities, creates a growing demand for qualified maritime managers, mariners and ship�s crews.

Dr Tayeb A. Kamali, Vice-Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, Dr Axel Meisen, President and Vice-Chancellor of Memorial University, Canada and His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah

With the growth of port facilities in the region, particularly in Dubai and Fujairah it is expected that off shore and onshore servicing, as a marine industry, will continue to be an area of growth. A market analysis conducted by the Center of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT) shows that there is an absence of institutions in the region offering high quality education and training in the marine disciplines. The Fujairah Institute is envisaged to offer training, applied research and education programs to the Marine sector (ranging from short term courses and certifications to diplomas, degrees and graduate degrees.)

It is anticipated that the Fujairah Marine Institute will conduct applied research into such areas as marine safety, port and ship management, 3D ocean visualization as well as marine ecology and navigation. �The growing requirement for well qualified local marine graduates, the growth in port development, the absence of a globally recognized marine institute in the region and the presence and support of a mammoth oil and gas industry suggests that the UAE is a fertile environment for the establishment of a world class centre in marine education, training and research� said Dr. Kamali. A delegation from HCT and the government of Fujairah will visit Memorial University in March to finalize the business and academic master plan for submission to His Highness Sheikh Hamad, and to the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, for their consideration.