ESM opens SIMS Lonavala pre-sea training centre

Mumbai: Executive Ship Management of Singapore officially opened its new Samundra ('the ocean') Institute of Maritime Studies (SIMS) cadet training centre in Lonavala, one hour's drive north of Mumbai, this week.

The ceremony immediately followed the Indian Shipping Summit (ISS) in Mumbai October 29-31, co-organised by Seatrade and TradeWinds. Special cars were arranged to take delegates on inspection tours pre-ISS and to attend the opening ceremony the day after the conference closed.

SIMS Lonavala has been built on a 55-acre site at a cost of $20m-plus and has the distinction of being India's largest solar-powered project. A central feature is a $5m ship-in-campus, a replica stern of a vessel complete with fully equipped bridge and engine room, sited next to a large artificial lake used for lifeboat drills and the like.

ESM already operates a SIMS post-sea training centre in Mumbai which the new facility will complement. The company manages a fleet of around 60 vessels and employs a roster of some 2,000 crew, all Indian nationals. ESM's main client, BP Shipping, will also use SIMS Lonavala to train staff and sent a high-level delegation to the official opening.  [02/11/07]