Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Shell Sponsor Chinese Crews For Vessels Of The Future

Collaboration with Specialist Marine University
Shipping News Feature

CHINA - Shanghai Maritime University (SMU), a faculty dedicated to producing marine specialists of all levels for the country’s shipping industry, has just signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Shell Marine Products who have agreed to supply the University with 80 metric tonnes of lubricants for use in Marine Engineering Department’s new Marine Engine Room Integrated Lab over a five-year period. The donation is understood to be worth $200,000 and the first tranche will be for 50 tonnes in the first year with the balance over the remaining four years.

The Marine Engine Room Integrated Lab will be set up in the University’s new campus in Lingang New City, and is expected to be completed by December 2010. Designed to look like a real engine room of a ship, the Lab will boast all new equipment and be primarily used by students studying for a Marine Engineering degree. Shell Marine Products will work with the Marine Engineering Department to provide technical training for its students through an annual seminar on lubricants.

Koh Chaik-Ming, General Manager, Asia Pacific & Middle East, Shell Marine Products, said:

“Shell Marine Products has been serving international and local marine customers in China for over 20 years and today has delivery operations covering more than 40 ports nationwide. We are delighted to contribute to the marine industry here by sharing our lubricants and technical knowledge with the students of Shanghai Maritime University.”

Professor Jin Yong-Xing, Vice President, Shanghai Maritime University, said:

“Shanghai Maritime University has produced marine specialists of all levels for the country’s shipping industry for many years, and has been recognised as a ‘cradle of international shipping specialists’. We have had a long and fruitful relationship with Shell Marine Products and look forward to working closely with them to make this partnership an ongoing success.”

The Vice President of Shell Marine Products, Isabella Loh commented:

“We strongly support the development of marine professionals in China who we believe will increasingly take their place as leaders of the global marine industry in the future. Shanghai Maritime University is the alma mater of many of the top marine professionals in China, and we are honoured to join the University in this collaborative initiative to support its ongoing efforts to produce marine professionals of the highest calibre.”

Shell Marine Products produce around 100 different types of lubricants formulated to provide optimum protection for shipping ranging from large ocean going tankers and container carriers to small fishing boats, in more than 650 ports in some 49 countries worldwide and operating in the toughest environments. Shanghai Maritime University is a multi-disciplinary university with over 20,000 full time students and has graduated over 50,000 students, who are employed in shipping companies, port enterprises and government institutions.

Photo: The MOU signing ceremony. Left to right: Zhou Shen-Bo, Shi Chao-Jian, Jin Yong-Xing, of Shanghai Maritime University and Isabella Loh, Koh Chaik-Ming, and Harrison Ha from Shell Marine Products