The signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between Norwegian Marine Services Training Institute Corporation (NMSTIC) and Clark Development Corporation (CDC) open up employment opportunities for over 30,000 Filipino mess boys, steward cooks and welders in an estimated 500 Norwegian shipping companies. Currently, the shipping industry of Norway and other European countries have high demand for cooks and mess boys

The MOA signing was done at the CDC corporate headquarters. Liberato Laus, the CDC president represented CDC while Maria Rune (NMSTIC official) represented NMSTIC.

According to Laus, the MOA is a joint initiative and would benefit both parties. The MOA will create jobs and opportunities for residents of Central Luzon and would solve the need of international maritime industry for additional manpower.

Rune of NMSTIC said that a training school for mess boys, and cooks and welders was already opened by NMSTIC at the Clark Polytechnic University last May 9.

The NMSTIC provided for a state-of-the-art training facilities in kitchen and culinary operations, other simulations in chamber operations, air-conditioned classrooms, multi-media training, speech laboratory and dormitories as part of the agreement.

Erling Rune, the vice president of NMSTIC informed that training for mess boys would typically be for 22 days while cooks and welders have to train for one month. The tuition fee for the training only costs Php 1,500 and is inclusive of food, room accommodation, and training materials.

Completion of the training would serve as a ticket for possible employment in international shipping companies. The NMSTIC has direct contact with Norwegian Seafarer agencies such as Solvan Manpower Agency, Barber Smith Wilhensen manning Inc., and CF Sharp Mideast Shipping CTI.

Erling said that NMSTIC has a world-class international faculty, and chef consultants. Instructors to the training programs will mostly come from Norway, Sweden, the US, India, Scotland and other European countries.