Dr Sheikh Sultan attends maritime training phase of AASTMT’s students at Khalid Port in Sharjah on Wednesday. WAM

He said this in his speech at the inauguration of the maritime training for students of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport on Wednesday, which was held in cooperation with the Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority, at Khalid Port in Sharjah.

Sheikh Sultan during the ceremony at Khalid Port in Sharjah. WAM

Dr Sheikh Sultan stressed the importance of practical training. "This is a tremendous moment that we have been waiting for all these years, you started your journey reading lecture notes in the classrooms and training on simulators in college, and now you will have practical knowledge.”

He asked the students to be vigilant and careful in their learning, emphasising the need for vigilance in handling maritime training.

Sheikh Sultan affirmed his great keenness at following up with the progress of the training, and urging the students to establish direct communication with trainers, wishing them success, excellence and a safe return.

Maritime navigation students will spend 12 months in training and working on board ships that conform to international specifications, while students specialising in marine engineering technology will complete 6 months in training, under the supervision of specialised and qualified international trainers, after which they will return to the academy to complete their remaining courses.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority; Mohammed Obaid Al Zaabi, Head of the Protocol and Hospitality Department; Dr Hashim Abdullah Bin Sarhan Al Zaabi, Director of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport; as well as a number of department directors and officials of the academy.

WAM