Timorese-German Maritime Training Unit is now ISO 9001:2015 certified
The Timorese-German Maritime Training Unit (TGMTU) of the National Centre for Employment and Vocational Training (CNEFP) of Timor-Leste is proud to be awarded ISO 9001:2015 certification. This globally recognized quality management standard ensures that TGMTU leadership and staff are committed to the continued improvement of the Unit’s quality management system with the scope “Design and delivery of maritime education and training”.
Early this year, during a regular meeting of TGMTU’s Advisory Committee, in a discussion on how best to ensure quality delivery of services and customer satisfaction, the proactive decision to become ISO 9001:2015 certified was taken. TGMTU staff was trained accordingly and the Unit underwent an evaluation process that included: quality management system development, internal audit and initial assessment, clearance of non-conformities, a management system documentation review. An external audit performed on 17-18 September 2019 by RINA Certification Body confirmed the compliance of the Unit’s quality management system with the ISO 9001:2015 standard through the award of a certificate.
In a symbolic ceremony on October 18, 2019, the German Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Dr. Peter Schoof, handed over the ISO 9000:2015 certificate of the training unit to the Minister for Economic Affairs of Timor-Leste, Mr. Fidelis Leite Magelhaes, who in turn handed it over to the Director of the National Centre for Employment and Vocational Training. As one of the youngest democracies in the world, Timor Leste is currently in the process of ratifying international maritime conventions, among them the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention). The ISO certification is very helpful for the upcoming STCW audit, carried out by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and verifies that seafarers trained in Timor-Leste can be internationally recognized.
TGMTU is the first Timorese training and education center. On behalf of the German Development Cooperation agency GIZ, AMBERO is supporting the establishment of this center since 2014. So far, our team of experts developed 17 job profiles for the maritime sector in Timor Leste. More than 1,500 participants graduated from 36 courses, covering topics from safety, marine environment, maritime protection, cargo handling, ship inspection, port and oil terminal security. The Maritime Induction Training Program for deck crew, ratings and watch keeping officers educated over 90 trainees, who are now ready to work on board of Timorese ships.
Educating maritime experts helps the country to administrate its maritime sector according to internationally required maritime standards and conventions for safety at sea, on board of ships and security in ports.
In November 2019, our partner organization DNTM (national maritime authority) evenly passed the audit and received the ISO 9001:2015 certificate for the provision of the following service: Supply of Seafarers Licensing and Maritime Training Provider Accreditation.
We are very proud of what the joint team work of DNTM-MTS and our project team (Mrs. Filomena Pereira from DNTM and Domingos Ximenes from our team) was able to perform very efficiently. During this process, Mana Nadezhda Nikolova performed as our international technical advisor and manager of our maritime training center in an excellent manner.
