Boost For Sail Training by IMO Secretary General
IMO Secretary General Efthimios Mitropoulos with Greek trainees on board the Dar Mlodziezy
BOOST FOR SAIL TRAINING BY IMO SECRETARY GENERAL
Sail training, and its potential contribution to the recruitment and training of young people for a career at sea, was given a significant new boost last week by the International Maritime Organization Secretary General Efthimios Mitropoulos at a major conference for close to 300 shipping industry leaders in Greece.
The conference in Athens was organised for the Greek Ministry of Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping by Sail Training Hellas in consultation with Sail Training International. Its purpose was to promote the Greek government’ strategy to improve the public perception of a career at sea. Secretary General Mitropoulos was the key-note speaker. Other speakers included the Minister for Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping, the President of the Piraeus Port Authority, and the Chairman of Sail Training Hellas (George Karavolos).
Secretary General Mitropoulos told delegates that there was too little public recognition of the vital role of shipping in transporting of 90 per cent of the goods involved in international trade. A career at sea was demanding and highly skilled, and the shortage of young people taking up a seafaring career was a major problem for the industry. He praised the role of sail training in preparing young people for a career at sea, in developing both technical and personal skills.
Following the conference, Secretary General Mitropoulos sailed for two days on the Polish sail training ship Dar Mlodziezy with Sail Training International President and Chairman Nigel Rowe and Sail Training Hellas Chairman George Karavolos. A group of young Greek trainees, organised by Sail Training Hellas, participated with the Polish cadets in manning the ship during the passage.
* For more on Secretary General Mitropoulos’ views on sail training email office@sailtraininginternational.org for a copy of Tall Ships & Sail Training 2010, or receive a copy when you sign up as a ‘Friend of the Tall Ships’
