UTT Maritime Studies to host The Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC)

The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) has been selected by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to host the regional Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC) for the Caribbean. The IMO also announced that under the Global MTCC Network (GMN) project, Shanghai Maritime University in China will host MTCC-Asia and a further three (3) MTCCs will be established in other target regions - Africa, Latin America and the Pacific. These MTCCs will form a global network which will work towards promoting ship energy-efficiency technologies and operations, and the reduction of harmful emissions from ships. This project, which is implemented by the IMO, is funded by the European Union (EU).

In its role as the MTCC-Caribbean, UTT will:

• Provide a platform for partnerships aimed at reducing emissions and enhancing energy efficient methods in the Maritime domain at a global level and specifically in the Caribbean region
• Identify environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies available to the Caribbean region
• Enhance awareness and uptake of environmentally sound technologies and build expertise within the region
• Provide advisory and market development services for technology adopters and suppliers
• Monitor regional energy efficiency needs and align training programmes to meet these needs.

Over a three year period, the five regional MTCCs will deliver mutually-agreed project milestones while contributing toward the IMO’s continuing, efforts to ensure effective implementation and enforcement of the global energy-efficiency regulations for international shipping. UTT’s selection comes on the heels of a competitive tendering process which is a testament to the quality of the maritime agenda undertaken by the University as well as its focus on capacity-building in this important sector.

Through specific academic and professional programmes which are geared toward meeting the human resource demands of the maritime industry, UTT continues to develop both the seafaring and shore-based competencies necessary for driving this highly specialised area.  The University’s seafaring programmes are accredited by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) of the United Kingdom and the Maritime Services Division of the Ministry of Works and Transport.

As host of the MTCC-Caribbean, UTT will continue to make an indelible impact on the local, regional and international maritime sectors. The University looks forward to the many contributions which can be enacted through this designation and will carry-on its efforts to build capacity in the international maritime industry. The MTCC team constitutes Mrs. Vivian Rambarath-Parasram (Project Director and Head), Captain Sukhjit Singh (Deputy Head and Technical Lead), Mr. Isikeli Waqa (Energy Efficiency Advisor), Mr. Stephan Nanan (Green House Gas Advisor) and Mrs. Sarita Mahabir-Lee (Communications and Visibility lead).