UK Maritime Administration (MCA) agrees to look at STCW short courses of Bangladesh Marine Academy

UK Maritime Administration (MCA) agrees to look at STCW short courses of Bangladesh Marine Academy

On Mar 29, 2022

The following message was published by

Good morning/afternoon

It gives me immense pleasure to inform our fellow BD mariners that a game changing success story unfolded with the UK Maritime Administration (MCA) finally agreeing to look at STCW short courses of Bangladesh Marine Academy. I, myself and Commandant Dr/Engr Sajid Hussain had a successful but crucial session with the Chief Examiner of MCA on 22nd March at MCA HQ. After years of stalemate MCA finally agreed to start the audit process to approve STCW short courses of Bangladesh Marine Academy. This could finally see hundreds of UK CoC holding Bangladeshi Officers undertaking refresher courses in their home soil. It will save them time, foreign exchange and costly travel abroad. It was Commandant’s perseverance and effort that paved the way to this development. I am happy & delighted to say that this has greater significance & importance. This will help many of our fellow seafaring BD officers in revalidating their UK CoC, staying at home soil. It’s likely to be the first step in inching towards mutual recognition of BD/UK CoCs. 

I also feel immensely proud and happy in congratulating Capt/Associate Professor Zakirul Bhuiyan in his successful launch of MASS Research Centre at Solent University on the same day (22nd March). This has firmly put him in the driving seat as the Director of Research Centre. In his opening remarks Capt Zakirul highlighted the significance & importance of this research centre in accelerating the University’s drive towards creating work ready, world ready workforce & human capital. I have no intension to steal his news cast detailing the event on BD Mariners web any time soon.

The auspicious occasion included the prestigious signing ceremony of MOU between Bangladesh Marine Academy and Southampton Solent University. Commandant Sajid Hussain of Bangladesh Marine Academy and Vice Chancellor professor Karen Stanton both signed for their respective organisation. Capt Moin Ahmed Director General of IMSO and I, both attended this as part of the Bangladesh delegation. Dignitaries included many Embassy officials including India, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria. The event followed a tour of the University’s state of the art simulation centre and a seminar organised by Capt Zakirul & the University.

Best regards

Forkanul Quader 06