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Doha – Qatar

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has accredited the Qatar International Safety Center (QISC) to be the first center of its kind to provide specialized maritime training in Qatar.

The move comes within the framework of MOTC’s compliance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention 1978.

The accreditation followed a full audit process conducted by MOTC, represented by its Maritime Transport Planning and Licensing Dept., verifying QISC’s compliance with all formalities and requirements laid down in the Convention, in addition to reviewing and approving the training materials to ensure that training and qualifications meet the level and quality required by the Convention.

The ultimate objective is to emphasize Qatar’s compliance with all IMO conventions and standards, foremost of which are marine safety, marine environment protection, and protecting lives and property at sea.

QISC will provide maritime sector’s workers in Qatar and from other countries with specialized maritime training courses on the techniques of personal survival, fire prevention, firefighting, elementary first aid, personal safety and social responsibilities.

Beneficiary trainees will obtain certificates that are recognized by MOTC and internationally as they are issued in a country, Qatar, which is an IMO member state and a Convention party. QISC has been accredited in accordance with STCW Convention requirements and prerequisites.

“Accrediting QISC for training seafarers in maritime courses that are classified as mandatory by the Convention is unprecedented in Qatar. QISC is now the first accredited center in Qatar to meet IMO requirements,” said MOTC’s Assistant Undersecretary of Maritime Transport Affairs Dr. Saleh Bin Fetais Al-Marri.

Formerly, he explained, seafarers used to enroll at accredited training centers in other countries to take these courses.

This step, he added, “comes as part of MOTC’s endeavors to develop Qatar’s maritime transport services in terms of training and qualifying the sector’s professionals and workers in line with IMO requirements.”

This accreditation will be announced by the IMO, which, in turn, will reveal it to other countries and member organizations and entities, he added.

He also said that this is a good opportunity to encourage those who are interested in working in maritime transport affairs to visit the ministry and get updated on relevant prerequisites and requirements that they should know.

Maritime Transport Quality Assurance Director Mr. Mohammed Al-Mutawa said that accrediting QISC came after verifying all quality criteria, which is a top-priority requirement of the STCW Convention. On that Convention, he said, there is an article stating that each Convention party should commit to continuously overseeing the training, assessment and medical and technical certification procedures in such a way that ensures the fulfillment of all quality standards.

Port State Control Officer at MOTC Capt. Khalid Elagib said that the mandatory courses are very important for meeting the requirements of the seafaring profession and are an integral part of mandatory certifications for captains, naval officers, naval engineers and all those who work on ships, in order to be licensed professionals.

Accrediting QISC, he noted, came after major efforts in collaboration with a universal rating agency to realizing such an unprecedent achievement in Qatar.

“QISC was established in 2001. It delivers training solutions that are developed and customized to meet all clients’ needs. We have worked hard with the officials concerned at MOTC’s Maritime Transport Affairs to win QISC accreditation in accordance with STCW Convention standards, becoming the first accredited center in Qatar,” said QISC CEO Mr. Abdul Rahman Darwish Al-Darwish.