Cyprus Maritime Academy: ‘Bridging a gap between education, science and industry’

The Cyprus Maritime Academy, part of the University of Nicosia, is promising to help fill the global officer shortage and to get more Cypriots serving the merchant fleet. This June Captain Eberhard Koch of the ÖL Shipping Group was appointed chairman of the academy.

“The Cyprus Maritime Academy is a milestone in the roadmap of Cyprus towards achieving the goal of addressing a potential impending shortage of qualified labour onboard Cyprus flagged ships,” Koch tells Maritime CEO.

Koch is of Austrian descent but has lived in Cyprus for nearly 20 years and has become one of the island’s most vocal maritime champions.

“The academy has committed itself in bridging a gap between education, science and industry and will serve as a bridge amongst the EU, Middle East and regional cooperation by offering specialised academic degrees,” Koch says.

Courses cover nautical science, marine engineering and marine electro-engineering, security courses in accordance with STCW, safety for the hydrocarbons industry (OPITO), cooking onboard vessels, and port management.

“We hope that the young Cypriots see a seagoing career as an adventure,” Koch says. “A means to see the world in a new perspective and certainly experience new things, travelling abroad, and seeing diverse ports.”