Maritime Academy

Kazakhstan has never been a seafaring nation, as the Caspian Sea is land-locked. Until recently, the Kazakh part was only sailed by fishing boats and the navy. Logically, Kazakhstan does not have any facilities to train sea-going crew members in accordance with the international standard STCW-95.

In co-operation with the Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz in Terschelling and the Kazakh authorities we are at an advanced stage of founding a maritime training institute in Kazakhstan. In first instance this will provide training for the lower ranks, such as deckhand and bosun. In future the institute will be expanded with education for the higher ranks, such as Chief Mate and Second Mate. Future sailors are also educated in the English language.

The Kazakh authorities are exercising increasing pressure on the oil companies to employ local people. Since the start of its operations in the Caspian Sea, Wagenborg has trained some 75 Kazakhs in the Netherlands. For Wagenborg it was a logical step to create local facilities to train crew.

Partly due to Wagenborg, Kazakhstan will soon have its own crew members trained in accordance with the latest international rules. Furthermore Kazakhstan will be eligible for inclusion in the 'IMO White List'.