ClassNK donates technical library to International Maritime College of Oman

Dr. Hilal Azzan Al Hadrhrami, Dean & Chairman of the college's Board of Directors, signed the agreement on behalf of IMCO.

Founded in 2005 by the Government of Oman and the Netherlands STC-Group, IMCO is Oman's leading institute for training in the maritime and petrochemical processing fields, and the only education and training institute in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to offer degree, diploma and short courses for the maritime, shipping, port, transport and petrochemical sectors to both males and females.

Per the agreement, ClassNK will donate more than 160 technical reference books worth more a total of more than $10,000 to the college, including publications from the IMO, BIMCO, and other leading maritime organizations, as well as copies of ClassNK's rules and technical guidelines. IMCO will make use of the volumes in its seafarer training programs, as well as its maritime research and development activities.

"By training a future generation of skilled seafarers,IMCO is not only helping to ensure the continued economic success of the rapidly growing maritime industry in Oman, the GCC and the Southern Asia, but helping to secure a safer future for our entire industry around the world," said Mr. Ueda, adding that IMCO "had quickly become one of the leading maritime educational institutions in the Middle East."

ClassNK's donation follows its rapid expansion in the Middle East region which has seen the world's largest classification society open seven offices in the region in the past four years, including its first office in Oman at Muscat in October 2012.