MSWI Principal Veerle Rolus with “Adventure of the Seas” First Officer Pablo Salas. MSWI is discussing the possibility of offering MCA recognised courses to ship crew.
MARIGOT–Maritime School of the West Indies (MSWI) announced Monday it will be ready to open the school and office as of the end of November, in time to start courses for the upcoming yachting season.
Although the school sustained major damage during Hurricane Irma, all repairs have almost been completed. SEMSAMAR, the company that owns the MSWI building, did not hesitate to contact local company Castel and Fromaget with Maxime Tanchon and his crew who completely rebuilt the damaged roof in record time.
Electricity, air conditioning, ceilings and drywalls have been renewed and repaired by the school staff, while all course materials like fire-fighting gear, breathing apparatus, fire extinguishers, first aid defibrillators and other teaching materials have been recovered from safe and dry storage.
MSWI is located in the centre of Marigot in Marina Royale on the lagoon waterfront. While Marina Royale is not fully operational as yet, access with dinghy or tender is available right at the school on the dock. There is local bus service from all the major marinas on the Dutch side to Marigot. The school can also provide addresses for crew housing.
The school office will be open from the end of November, but phone and Internet reservations can be made from today.
The first Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping (STCW) course starts in December. The school received several requests from mega-yacht crew asking whether it would be possible to change the STCW course date to Monday, December 11 instead of December 4, so that crew attending the Antigua Charter Yacht Show could come to follow the STCW course at MSWI, so the course date is now confirmed for Monday December 11.
All other courses such as the Small Powerboat and RIB, VHF, Master 200 Ton and others are on schedule throughout the season.
MSWI has received confirmation from several yachts that they are coming to St. Maarten/St. Martin as of December. Captains were happy to hear that businesses like Budget Marine, Electec, FKG Rigging, Liferafts Etc. and others are fully operational, as that is one of the reasons to come to the Island.
With several hotels and villas able to offer rooms and rentals for guests, they are also satisfied that charter clients flying in by private jet or regular airline can stay a few days before and/or after a charter vacation.
MSWI is also in talks with some of the cruise lines to offer Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)-recognised courses to their crew. Several new courses will be introduced as of the New Year.
Head instructor Mike Stamm, First Aid instructor Doctor Katja Andeweg, Firefighting Instructor Marco London, STCW and Recreational Courses instructor Maaike van Mameren and others are ready for another busy yachting season.
Sign up now on line at the website
www.MaritimeSchool.net or call Veerle on +596.696.26.16.12 to make your reservation before the course is fully booked!
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/70404-maritime-school-is-ready-to-open-end-of-november
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