Blog

OWNER’S VISIT – 23rd February 2023

Anglo-Eastern Maritime Academy was fully prepared to welcome distinguished ship owners and clients, as well as esteemed dignitaries from various offices of the Anglo Eastern group to its beautiful premises. The campus was filled with excitement and a sense of readiness to exhibit the top-notch facilities, high-quality education, and training offered on campus to the esteemed guests. The cadets of AEMA had arranged projects and working models, presenting various concepts, and demonstrating new technologies and innovations in the shipping field. The event was held on the 23rd of February 2023.

The day began with guests gathering in the auditorium for refreshments and to hear addresses by CEO Capt. Bjørn Højgaard and Managing Director Group QHSE and Training – Capt. Pradeep Chawla. Ms. Sweta Singh, a Physics faculty member, hosted the auditorium session, during which Capt. Bjørn Højgaard acknowledged and appreciated the company’s vision to establish a pre-sea institute for young boys and girls who would be placed on board ships managed by Anglo-Eastern. He recognized and appreciated Capt. Chawla’s efforts in spearheading this vision and bringing it to fruition. As Capt. Chawla was retiring, he wished him the very best and recognized and appreciated all that he had done for the company. Capt. Bjørn Højgaard noted that each time he visited the academy, he witnessed something new and was impressed by the cadets’ enthusiasm and passion. He credited the institute’s dedicated faculties, whom he considered to be its biggest strength, for making all this possible.

Following this, Captain Chawla delivered a speech in which he informed the audience of the exhaustive and scrupulous selection procedure that candidates must undergo before being inducted into AEMA. In his characteristic humorous style, he presented these statistics in an engaging manner.
Captain Chawla also took pride in highlighting that the campus has a full-time psychologist, and the significant increase in the number of female cadets since the academy’s inception. He reiterated the CEO’s perspective and praised the faculty for their valuable contributions in establishing AEMA as one of the leading maritime colleges in the country, citing various awards the institution has received, to substantiate his statement.

Following that, the distinguished attendees were cordially invited to attend the inauguration ceremony of AEMA’s new engine workshop, which was the highlight project of the year. The vast expanse of the workshop impressed the guests, and they expressed their admiration for the extensive efforts involved in its construction and establishment. The workshop has been thoughtfully designed to accommodate future advancements in technology and innovation, such as an alternate fuel centre, dual fuel ship operations training, and engine overhauls. Additionally, the event featured the unveiling of two operational models at the old engine workshop: the Hyundai Hi-Ballast Water Treatment System (Hyundai Hi-BWTS) and the Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP).

Subsequently, the attendees were divided into four distinct groups, each distinguished by a cap colour (green, blue, yellow, and white), in order to facilitate a seamless campus tour. During the tour, the guests were able to visit various areas of the campus, including the two engine workshops, the electrical lab, the seamanship area, and the academic block. Notably, cadets from DNS and GME had set up displays and demonstrations of their projects to showcase their work to the visitors.

During their tour, the visitors observed the stunning flora and fauna on campus that had been thoroughly documented. The evident respect and appreciation for nature served as a reminder of the immense significance it holds in the lives of seafarers, who spend a significant amount of time surrounded by the sea. This emphasizes the importance of adhering to laws and regulations not out of fear, but rather out of a deep sense of respect.

The guests were pleasantly surprised by the exceptional level of expertise demonstrated by the aspiring seafarers, who showcased their knowledge and skills in various aspects ranging from project building to mechanics and software development. They expressed their appreciation for the hard work put in by the cadets in bringing their projects to fruition.

One of the guests was highly impressed by the innovative vacuum mooring project developed by the cadets and went on to commend them by labelling them as “mini engineers,” which is a significant compliment! The fact that the cadets, who were young teenagers and from the deck side, could create such an efficient technical engineering model that controlled the vertical movement of the suction pad through RC controller and Bluetooth technology, is indeed commendable!

The ship owners highly appreciated and recognized the cadets’ knowledge in ship stability, particularly during sailing and berthing, as evidenced by their impressive anti-heeling model. The guests were equally impressed by the cadets’ ability to articulate themselves on various projects related to ship stability concepts, such as the Angle of Loll and Hindship model, which clearly demonstrated their expertise in the subject matter and their command of the appropriate terminology. The visitors engaged in extensive interaction with the cadets and had a highly enjoyable time.

The attendees’ excitement and amazement were unmistakable as they witnessed a realistic working model of the Panama Canal transit right before their eyes. The demonstration, which included the opening and closing of valves, the entry and exit of the vessel into the locks, and the vessel’s motion through the waters, received loud cheers and applause for each step. Similarly, the cadets’ demonstration of the Fall Prevention Device (FPD) elicited the same level of enthusiasm and expressions of joy and admiration from the visitors. The demonstration showed a human-sized dummy falling from a height, and the FPD successfully preventing any injuries.

The day’s highlights also included the demonstration of a remotely controlled solar-powered boat, which was a major attraction for the visitors at the AEMA boat jetty.

The academy’s commitment to developing well-rounded cadets was exemplified by the Human Factors project on display in the academic block. It proved that the cadets along with technical proficiency, showcased a positive work ethic, and a nuanced understanding of the human element in maritime operations. The guests were captivated by the introduction of the 6 Thinking Hats concept, which showcased the impressive awareness and early adoption of a growth mindset among these young professionals.

Another highlight in the academy was the 30-seater language lab with an English Language software that targeted language competency of the cadets. Cadets would spend 4-6 hours in the lab learning immersively. They could choose their desired skill (listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary, or soft skills) level and also determine their CEFR level (basic-A1/A2, intermediate-B1/B2 or advanced C1/C2) and work accordingly. The primary objective of establishing an English lab was to equip these young mariners with English language proficiency, which is vital given their global professional status and frequent interactions with individuals from diverse nationalities.

During the engine project presentation, the engineering cadets discussed alternate fuel technology and its relevance to the carbon emission reduction goals of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). One guest praised the cadets for their impressive knowledge, stating, “You guys are well-informed!” The Innovation and New Technology classroom, which centred on energy-saving innovations that reduce ship operating costs and carbon footprint, drew the attention of guests, who were impressed by the cadets’ familiarity with the latest technological advancements.

In the PSC Learning Centre project, ship representatives lauded the cadets for their exceptional grasp of the checks performed during PSC inspections and commended the training program for including this important aspect.

The ETO lab received significant recognition and accolades, particularly the state-of-the-art Automation lab, which received high praise from guests. The cadets showcased real models, including Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), and Proportional Integral and Derivative Devices (PIDs), which allowed guests to relate to the projects. The guests were impressed by the intensive electronics training provided to the cadets and expressed a desire for further specialized training to enable them to work on Dynamic Positioning ships, which rely heavily on electronics. Having recognized the exceptional training provided to the cadets, the guests expressed their high expectations and recommended that they receive training on advanced soft starters used in specific LNG carriers.

As the guests attentively listened and admired the explanations provided by the cadets on various facilities such as the Wheelhouse, ECDIS, Virtual Reality, and advanced simulator, Mr. Wayne Arguin, Rear Admiral USCG (Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (CG-5P) U.S. Coast Guard ), took notice of DNS Cadet Namrata Mishra’s sincere dedication to her duties.

Impressed by her exceptional leadership skills, responsible attitude towards management, and interpersonal communication, Mr. Wayne presented Namrata with a badge of honor as a recognition of her embodiment of the values of Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty.

Throughout the day, there was a mutual exchange of ideas and information between the guests and the young boys and girls. The guests gained valuable insight into the facilities and training offered at the campus, while the young students benefited from the perspective of industry leaders and experienced professionals.

The day concluded with dignitaries enjoying a delicious lunch and visiting the fire-fighting area before returning to the auditorium for high tea. The guests departed with mementos to remember their visit by.

ENQUIRE NOW