National Maritime College of Ireland

Tuesday 16 February 2010

EMBARGO, THURSDAY 11^th February

MAJOR INTERNATIONAL JOINT TRAINING VENTURE ANNOUNCED FOR NMCI

GAC Training & Service Solutions Limited (GTSS), a joint venture between the Gulf Agency Company (GAC) and the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI), will be announced on 11th February 2010 at the NMCI, in Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork. GTSS combines GAC’s office network, commercial contacts, expertise and knowledge in global shipping, logistics and the marine industry with the superb facilities of NMCI – the world’s most advanced maritime college. The venture will provide cost saving and innovative training solutions for the Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) and tanker markets as well as other maritime sectors. This partnership is focused on delivering a comprehensive portfolio of training courses for both seafarers and shore-based shipping and commodity operations personnel. The training will train people in order to empower and equip them to provide safe and secure jetty operations. GAC is a leading independent provider of shipping and logistics services. GAC’s 9000 personnel are found in over 300 offices worldwide and speak more than 100 languages. Headquartered in Dubai, the Group is local in action and global in attitude. The NMCI, which opened in 2004, is a constituent college of CIT and involves a partnership with the Irish Naval Service. GTSS combines GAC’s global reach and over fifty years of maritime expertise and powerful branding with the NMCI’s superb facilities and a dedicated faculty. The NMCI is equipped with: § A 17 bridge simulator suite including 360 degree vision; § Survival pool fitted with wave, wind turbine, drenching, visual and sound effects; § Helicopter underwater escape training; § Marine jetty fitted with free-fall and davit lifeboats with pontoon and slipway access to Cork harbour; § Damage control unit specialising in flooding simulation; § Fire fighting training facility; § Communications laboratories; § Marine Engineering Engine room and laboratories; § Seamanship workshop; § Conference facilities. The planned courses are designed to provide unique “hands-on” training for ship owners, operators, and managers, charterers and trading companies, oil, gas and chemical companies (on shore and off shore), terminal owners and operators, industry bodies, trade finance banks, insurance companies and P&I Clubs, cargo inspection companies and ship brokers.

Courses will be provided at the NMCI, online, and at the client’s location or any combination thereof, with course content developed and delivered by experts in maritime training. GTSS will be supported by the faculty of the NMCI and specialist contract lecturers. Virtual ‘real time’ experiences will be created through the use of digital imagery captured inside LNG shore tanks, ships’ tanks, cargo manifold, CCR and other areas.

Christer Sjodoff, Vice President, GAC Solutions said:

“An introduction and subsequent visit to the National Maritime College of Ireland, in February 2009 provided the impetus for this development. GAC was searching for a partner to provide bespoke LNG training courses for key clients. A subsequent visit to an LNG terminal identified the linkage and opportunities between training and jetty operations. Discussions and workshops, both formal and informal followed. It soon became apparent that GAC Training & Service Solutions would provide a bridge and platform to new markets whilst consolidating and strengthening our footprint in existing ones.”

Common to GAC and NMCI is that both partners have a ‘can do’ attitude. This makes decision making a positive process.

For GAC, our partnership with NMCI means that we have a physical asset (the college) within the business model which provides the base for our activities and which generates opportunities. It permits vertical integration within our portfolio of shipping services. Our customers benefit from the innovative training that we are able to deliver, such as Return to Scene (R2S) applications.”

Conor Mowlds, Manager, NMCI Services continued:

“In June of 2008 the National Maritime College of Ireland set up its Commercial Division (NMCIS Services) with the aim of increasing services to industry and optimising the college’s world class, state of the art, training facilities. From the outset our business policy has been to offer training to niche maritime sectors by forming strategic partnerships that enhance our currency with industry and gives us access to new markets. Armed with this knowledge, our colleagues in the Irish government’s dedicated maritime development agency, the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO), introduced us to GAC in early 2009.

For the NMCI, our joint venture company with one of the world’s leading shipping solutions providers ensures access to a global stage and moves us further towards our goal of becoming a world centre of excellence for maritime training. Specialising in the petrochemical, gas and commodities markets, GAC Training & Service Solutions, powered by the NMCI, combines cutting edge digital fixed asset capturing technology (R2S) supported by some of the world’s leading experts to provide the bridge and the platform for safe and efficient training and jetty services.”

For further information visit www.gacworld.com or www.nmci.ie

ENDS

For further Press Information: Please contact Jean Kearney on 087 2527495 or Ivor Melia on 087 2234194 email: jean.kearney@cit.ie