29 Oct 2008

Keppel launches centre of excellence for technical and specialised skills training for offshore and marine industry

It partners ITE to create Singapore’s first joint-certification training programmes

Keppel Offshore & Marine Group Training Centre (Keppel O&M Training Centre), the technical and specialised skill training centre of Keppel Offshore & Marine Limited (Keppel O&M), has enhanced its capacity to 3,500 training places per annum with its new facilities in Shipyard Road.

The Centre will be a one-stop training facility where employees and subcontractors can register for courses, undergo training, receive certification and apply for relevant trade licences.

Mr Choo Chiau Beng, Chairman & CEO of Keppel O&M, said, “People development is one of our core values. The Keppel Group’s reputation as a world leader in the offshore and marine industry has been built upon the continuous equipping of our workforce to offer world-class services to our customers.”

Keppel O&M’s annual investment in training was S$17 million for 2006 and 2007 each. This is expected to rise to S$23 million in 2008, more than half of which goes to technical skills and specialised training packages run by Keppel O&M Training Centre.

The official opening of the new facilities on 29 October 2008 by Mr Bob Tan, Chairman of the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), is in line with Keppel O&M’s commitment to build a formidable workforce.

At the ceremony, Mr Bruce Poh Geok Huat, Director & Chief Executive Officer of ITE and Mr Tong Chong Heong, Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer of Keppel O&M signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that sees the creation of Singapore’s first offshore and marine joint-certification training.

Under the MOU, Keppel O&M and ITE will jointly set up the Marine Offshore Technology Workshop at the ITE College Central. Keppel O&M will provide the equipment and technical support for the centre and offer 10 scholarship awards annually for the next five years for students pursuing the Higher Nitec in Marine Offshore Engineering course at ITE. Keppel O&M and ITE will also develop joint-certification training programmes.

Mr Bruce Poh said, “Youths seeking to build a career in the marine industry will greatly benefit from Keppel O&M’s scholarship initiative. Our partnership with Keppel O&M will also augment the training curricula and programmes in the field of offshore and marine, bringing us closer to our national goal of making Singapore a centre of excellence in this industry.”

Established in 1968 along with Keppel Shipyard when the Company was privatised by the Singapore Government, the Keppel O&M Training Centre has been a seedbed for skilled workers, engineers and professionals. Today, it draws a wealth of experience and expertise from Keppel O&M’s established, global network of 20 yards and 10 engineering and technology units, to be at the forefront in technical training to meet market needs.

The training curricula and programmes provided by Keppel O&M Training Centre are comprehensive. These include a wide range of welding, trade & testing processes, dimension control, workplace safety & health related courses on work in confined places, scaffolding and forklift, quality control, various types of Higher Nitec courses such as Marine Electrical Technology, Fabrication Technology and Marine Technology.

The courses are catered to equip workers with the skills, attitudes and workplace safety standards required for the industry. Specialised training programmes are also conducted in compliance with classification societies’ standards to prepare and certify personnel to carry out work on materials that are used for specified purposes and in extreme conditions of high temperature, high pressure and harsh climatic environments of minus 45^oC.

The courses are developed in-house as well as with strategic partners including government agencies such as the Ministry of Manpower and Workforce Development Agency, technical education institutes like ITE, NTUC Learning Hub and Workplace Safety Council and industry partners such as the Association of Singapore Marine Industries, classification societies and customers.

Mr Choo explained, “It is only when we share knowledge and best practices with progressive partners that we can develop a world-class workforce.”

Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) distinguishes itself as the world leader in the design and construction of offshore rigs. It is also a leader in shiprepair and conversion, as well as in specialised shipbuilding. Backed by its reputation for versatility, reliability, timely delivery and good project management, Keppel O&M is committed to being the provider of choice and partner for solutions for the global offshore and marine industry.

For more information, please contact

Grace Chia
Assistant Manager
Keppel Group Corporate Communications
DID: +65 64136 434
Email: grace.chia@kepcorp.com

Attachments:

Download - Speech by Mr Choo Chiau Beng, Chairman & CEO, Keppel Offshore & Marine

Download - Speech by Mr Bob Tan, Chairman, ITE Board of Governors

The newly opened Keppel Offshore & Marine Group Training Centre is poised to be a centre of excellence for technical and specialised skills training. Touring the facility are (L-R) Mr Bruce Poh (third from left), Director & CEO, ITE; Mr Choo Chiau Beng, Chairman & CEO, Keppel Offshore & Marine; Mr Bob Tan, Chairman of ITE Board of Governors; and Mr Tong Chong Heong, MD & COO, Keppel Offshore & Marine.

Sealing Singapore's first offshore and marine training partnership between Keppel Offshore & Marine and ITE are (L-R) Mr Chee Jin Kiong, Executive Director, HR, Keppel Offshore & Marine; Mr Tong Chong Heong, MD & COO, Keppel Offshore & Marine; Mr Bob Tan, Chairman of ITE Board of Governors; Mr Choo Chiau Beng, Chairman & CEO, Keppel Offshore & Marine; Mr Bruce Poh, Director & CEO, ITE; and Mr Tan Seng Hua, Principal, ITE College Central.

Download - Keppel Offshore & Marine Training Centre Video