Intensive seafarer training lies ahead for a host of Marine and Ports staff.

Training is proposed for more than 70 employees who operate vessels, including captains, engine drivers and leading seamen.

The first six of 20 planned for this year are already at Britain’s Warsash Maritime Academy, one of the world’s top centres for maritime training.

The Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping course will better prepare them for their duties aboard the nine Lloyd’s class vessels in the Marine and Ports fleet.

The basic STCW training started on Monday, ends on June 10 and has been arranged through a partnership with the Department of Workforce Development.

Minister of Tourism, Transport and Municipalities Michael Fahy said the training would benefit the travelling public and bring the Marine and Ports the professional backing in line with seafarers worldwide.

“Warsash is one of the most highly regarded institutions for maritime teaching and this type of training is also great for career mobility,” Senator Fahy said.

Bermuda is a signatory to the 1978 STCW International Convention, which was the first to set qualification standards for masters, officers and watch personnel on seagoing merchant ships.

Warsash Maritime Academy is a part of Southampton Solent University with a campus in the village of Warsash on the east bank of the River Hamble, near the English cities of Southampton and Portsmouth.