The Marine Training Centre Tarawa (MTC) is a training school for seafarers founded in 1967 in
Betio
Betio is the name of both an island and a township within the Tarawa Atoll, part of the Republic of Kiribati. Betio is the largest township of Kiribati's capital city, South Tarawa, and it is also the country's primary port. Betio is located on ...
, Tarawa, Kiribati. It is a division of the
Ministry of Employment and Human Resources
The Ministry of Employment and Human Resources (MEHR) is a government ministry of Kiribati, headquartered in South Tarawa, Tarawa. He was created in October 2016, just after the revision of the Constitution of Kiribati that allows more than 10 ...
of the
Government of Kiribati
Politics of Kiribati takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the ''Beretitenti'', President of Kiribati, is both the head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive ...
.
The Marine Training Centre, mainly funded by Germany (
Hamburg Süd
Hamburg Südamerikanische Dampfschifffahrts-Gesellschaft A/S & Co KG, widely known as Hamburg Süd, was a German container shipping company. Founded in 1871, Hamburg Süd was among the market leaders in the North–South trade. It also served a ...
), European Union, New Zealand aid, and Japan, is approved to conduct training by the Marine Division of the Ministry, being the Maritime Authority of the Government.
History
A cargo ship of the German shipping company
Hamburg Süd
Hamburg Südamerikanische Dampfschifffahrts-Gesellschaft A/S & Co KG, widely known as Hamburg Süd, was a German container shipping company. Founded in 1871, Hamburg Süd was among the market leaders in the North–South trade. It also served a ...
had an injured crew member in 1964 – the captain's report on the skilled fishermen of the
Gilbert and Ellice Islands
The Gilbert and Ellice Islands (GEIC as a colony) in the Pacific Ocean was part of the British Empire from 1892 to 1976. It was a British protectorate, protectorate from 1892 to 12 January 1916, and then a crown colony, colony until 1 January 1 ...
in
Tarawa
Tarawa is an atoll and the capital of the Republic of Kiribati,Kiribati ''
merchant marine training school, MTC is now owned and funded by the government of Kiribati. MTC was established in 1967 by the British Government, the
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a United Nations agency tasked with helping countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development. The UNDP emphasizes on developing local capacity towar ...
(UNDP), the British shipping China Navigation Company, and Hamburg Süd, being part of the SPMS (South Pacific Marine Services).
The Government had the following objectives when they founded the Centre:
* to train ratings for employment on overseas ships. Initially employment was to be on the vessels of the two sponsoring companies. Gilbert and Ellice Islands' seamen were to work in the Deck, Engine and Catering Departments.
* to provide overseas employment for young Gilbert and Ellice Islanders enabling them to earn more money than they could at home.
* to increase the flow of foreign currency into the Gilbert and Ellice Islands from the remittances of the seamen working overseas.
* to provide income for the community as a whole from these being a major hindrance to employment growth, comparison on neighboring countries’ rates such as
Tuvalu
Tuvalu ( ) is an island country in the Polynesian subregion of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean, about midway between Hawaii and Australia. It lies east-northeast of the Santa Cruz Islands (which belong to the Solomon Islands), northeast of Van ...
and others and other relevant recommendations from members.
Over the 50 year period since its creation to date, MTC has provided training to:
* more than 6,300 people, 4,520 (72%) of whom have graduated;
* 78 women, plus those trained for the
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is an American cruise line founded in Norway in 1966, headquartered in Miami, Florida, and incorporated in the Bahamas. It is the List of cruise lines, fourth-largest cruise line in the world by passengers, controlling ...
(NCL).
Economy
The MTC is since its creation the most important source of private sector employment for Kiribati, generating significant foreign exchange earnings. More than 3,700 trainees have been graduated between 1984-2017. This situation created jobs with German shipping lines, with an average of 936 jobs filled per year. Remittances from wages earned while overseas provide a source of foreign revenue for the Kiribati economy and support to the extended families of the seafarers.
Partners
Merchant marine
South Pacific Marine Services (SPMS) and its partners:
*
Hamburg Süd
Hamburg Südamerikanische Dampfschifffahrts-Gesellschaft A/S & Co KG, widely known as Hamburg Süd, was a German container shipping company. Founded in 1871, Hamburg Süd was among the market leaders in the North–South trade. It also served a ...