Plans to create a fire training facility for mariners in Sandys have been put forward for consideration by the Department of Planning.

While the Bermuda Maritime Academy previously proposed a facility be set up near the Bull’s Head Car Park, the plan sparked objections and was subsequently withdrawn.

Under the new plan, the facility will be located in an existing building on Malabar Road opposite Black Bay and near the historic Royal Navy Graveyard, Ireland Island South.

The building itself would be used for classroom facilities, while an additional structure would be erected on the eastern side of the building.

The BMA said the site would be used to provide mariners with internationally recognised training.

“Bermuda is a party member of the International Maritime Organisation and as such are obligated to comply with the conventions agreed upon globally,” the application said.

“One of these conventions is the Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for seafarers, which sets minimum standards for commercial mariners on board vessels.”

The STCW has five cores, including fire prevention and fire fighting.

“This particular course involves a search and recovery of an artificial victim within a smoke simulated environment,” the application said. “We use non-toxic disco smoke machines for this element.

“Candidates also are trained with extinguishers and firehoses on a gas controlled, clean burn, fire which is contained in a steel pan and whose fuel is automatically controlled by our local professional fire Instructors who are all MCA certified.”

The application noted that the practical training would only be carried out during daylight hours and last no longer than eight hours.

“We at Bermuda Maritime Academy have invested immense time and energy in becoming certified by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency from the UK to teach these courses on island saving our local mariners vast expenses by otherwise having to travel overseas,” the application said.

“We are now seeking a new location for our practical firefighting training component. Without a facility, the offer of four of five courses renders many of our efforts ineffective.

“Without these courses, our local mariners will be non-compliant to international safety standards, and the ripple effect of this could be detrimental to our reputation in the maritime sector.”