Key stakeholders present for the virtual event which marked the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding: Minister of National Security, The Honourable Stuart Young and Professor Prakash Persad, President (Ag.), UTT; along with (l-r): Ms. Sarita Mahabir-Lee, Programme Coordinator, UTT; Captain Sukhjit Singh, UTT; Mr. Rhett Chee Ping, Managing Director, Jupiter Marine Services Ltd; Mr. Paul Taylor, Jupiter Marine Services Ltd; Paul Eagles, SMT Shipping Ltd.;  Dariusz Stefaniak, SMT Shipping Ltd.; Peter Newell, SMT Shipping Ltd.; Vanessa Voorham, Communications Manager, SMT Shipping Ltd; Vivian Rambarath-Parasram, UTT;  Stephan Nanan, UTT;  Gilbert Peterson, Senior Counsel; Mark Voorham, CEO, SMT Shipping Ltd; Dr. Arthur Potts, UTT; Stephanie Lovelace, Ministry of Education. 

The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SMT Shipping (Cyprus) Ltd. (SMT Shipping) and Jupiter Marine Services Ltd. (Jupiter Marine), on August 18th 2020, in a virtual event. This MoU signing strengthens an already operational partnership between the Centre for Maritime and Ocean Studies (CMOS), UTT, and these two companies. Minister of National Security Stuart Young, Professor Prakash Persad, President (Ag.) UTT, Professor Clement Imbert, Chairman of the Board of Governors, UTT, Mr. Markus Voorham, CEO, SMT Shipping (Cyprus) Ltd and Mr. Rhett Chee Ping, Managing Director, Jupiter Marine Services Ltd., all spoke at the event. They all highlighted the need for public-private partnerships to develop the maritime sector of Trinidad and Tobago and emphasised their commitment to the MoU.

Minister Young expressed his deep interest in the maritime sector, recognised the state-of-the-art facilities utilised by UTT’s Centre for Maritime and Ocean Studies in maritime education and training, and pledged continued support for Trinidad and Tobago’s maritime sector. He stated that this sector is not only essential with respect to the goods which Trinidad and Tobago requires on a daily basis, but also to the sustainability of the economy.

Mark Voorham, CEO, SMT Shipping, stated that the MoU represents a new chapter in SMT Shipping’s partnership with UTT and their deepening commitment to the education of young men and women in the seafarer tradition. Additionally, he stated that SMT Shipping views the cadets as the future of their company and would love to see them making the full journey from Cadets to Senior Officers.

Rhett Chee Ping, Managing Director, Jupiter Marine, issued a call for other shipping companies to follow in wake of SMT Shipping, and partner with UTT to develop the local maritime sector.

UTT was first engaged by Jupiter Marine Services Limited, agents for SMT Shipping Limited in 2019, when they were approached by Engine Cadet Shaquille Tull for assistance with obtaining training onboard a vessel in order to complete his course of study. Although UTT maintains several longstanding and beneficial partnerships with companies in the local maritime sector, the availability of training berths for cadets onboard commercial vessels has always been in lower supply than demand. This is not unique to the local sector as it is a trend observed globally. Jupiter Marine made the introduction to SMT Shipping and UTT’s Centre for Maritime and Ocean Studies was able to work with them to develop a model for cooperation that met the needs of UTT, SMT

Shipping and the cadets. Jupiter Marine facilitates the boarding and disembarking of the UTT Cadets for their training periods on board SMT Shipping vessels. The first cadet was placed onboard in October 2019 and eleven (11) more have been placed since. Four (4) cadets are expected to board the MV Houston Pearl and MV Lake Pearl within the next few days and a further three (3) have been selected and are awaiting placements. The cadets are able to obtain their practical sea service requirement which allows them to qualify for professional examinations to become Officers of the Watch on commercial trade vessels.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges to these placements as Trinidad and Tobago’s borders are closed and restrictions have been placed on crewing and crew changes; however, all parties have ensured compliance with all safety and testing protocols established locally and internationally, inclusive of pre and post quarantine periods and testing. This has proven to be 100% effective thus far.

The signing of this MoU marks the formal establishment of the partnership between UTT, SMT Shipping Limited and Jupiter Marine Services Limited. It is another step forward for The University of Trinidad and Tobago in building local seafaring capacity.

Mark Voorham, CEO, SMT Shipping (Cyprus) Ltd

    JUPITER MARINE SERVICES LTD.