July 18 - In its latest video 'Training Matters', maritime education services provider Videotel demonstrates the importance of staff training to shipowners and its impact on profitability.

In the video it details how ship operators can receive a tangible return on investment with more efficient operations, fewer accidents, less off-hire time, lower insurance premiums, improved compliance with legislation and a more motivated workforce.
 
Earlier this month, 'Training Matters' was introduced to an audience of shipowners and ship managers at the Sonangol Shipping Safety Seminar in Angola, and Videotel Marine International ceo Nigel Cleave emphasised:  "In today's tough financial and litigious environment, being trained to minimum standards is clearly not adequate. Technology continues to advance and it is very important that education and training keeps pace with such changes."
 
Cleave added that all industries face doing business in a competitive marketplace and are under increasing pressure to minimise costs, although these pressures are mounting for those operating in the shipping industry. "Ship owners and ship managers must comply with increasingly complex legislation, engage crews that are competent to cope with technically advanced equipment and deal with an ever growing number of ship inspections and audits.
 
"Good crew training reduces this pressure, as it is an essential element in building a competent skilled and more reliable workforce," said Cleave, adding: "It does, of course, need to be high quality, effective training that results in good practices. This will reduce claims ultimately directed towards owners, inspectors, charterers, managers, banks and insurers."
 
In the upcoming July/August 2013 edition of HLPFI magazine, Marcia MacLeod analyses how heavy lift and project forwarding companies train their staff to handle complex jobs.
 
www.videotel.com