PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release: 1 October 2008

IMarEST WELCOMES KEPPEL AS A MARINE PARTNER

Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), one of the largest offshore and marine groups in the world, has become a member of the Marine Partners initiative run by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST). This corporate partnership programme, which now has over 30 member organisations, works on building relationships with marine and offshore organisations, and offers a customised package for each Marine Partner.  

 “We are delighted to welcome Keppel O&M as Marine Partners, and look forward to building an ever-closer relationship with this dynamic organisation,” says Keith Read CBE, Chief Executive of IMarEST. “Its Chairman and Chief Executive, Mr Choo Chiau Beng, was awarded an honorary fellowship of IMarEST earlier this year at the 105th Annual Dinner of the Institute.  At the time of receiving his award, he explained that his passion, after 40 years in the industry, is to attract more people of talent and ability, people who have a ‘can do’ spirit, to exploit opportunities and achieve breakthroughs in the areas of engineering, technology and the business of offshore and marine; and this is very much borne out by the emphasis that Keppel O&M is putting on developing employee skills by means of their tailor-made IMarEST Marine Partner package.”

Keppel O&M, integrating the experience and expertise of Keppel FELS, Keppel Shipyard, Keppel Singmarine and its overseas yards, was established in 2002. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Corporation, Keppel O&M has a strategic network of 20 yards serving regions including Asia Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Caspian Sea, Middle East and the North Sea.

Under the terms of the new Marine Partnership, IMarEST will be providing consultancy services to conduct an initial review of Keppel O&M’s training documentation with potential scope for IMarEST accreditation. This will be followed by the provision of advice and support leading to successful accreditation of the Keppel’s graduate training programme or the Initial Professional Development (IPD) programme.

Mr Charles Foo, Managing Director (Special Projects), Keppel O&M, said, “We look forward to benefit from advice that will lead to improvements of the standard of our Initial Professional Development programme and independent recognition of our commitment to employee career development and training.”

“Graduates are increasingly looking for courses that have accreditation by a professional body. Encouraging young people to join our industry is vital, and working with IMarEST we know we can provide the best possible on-going training programme for them.”

Keppel O&M’s Marine Partner status enables its employees worldwide to have unlimited use of the IMarEST”s Marine Information Centre with its vast resources. They will also receive special discount on professional membership and opportunities for continuing professional development. Additionally, Keppel’s sponsored students will benefit from IMarEST Student membership – the first step towards professional recognition.

Mr Foo said, “We will work closely with IMarEST on the development of the programme, which is a true partnership with both organisations benefiting. We already play a very active part at branch and division level and look forward to expanding this relationship.”

Further information on the Marine Partners programme and its wide range of opportunities that can be tailored to each organisation’s specific requirements are available from the IMarEST website at www.imarest.org from Ms Samantha Dawkins, Corporate Relations Executive, at IMarEST Samantha.dawkins@imarest. Information on IMarEST South East Asia Division activities is available from Ms Abi Virjee, South East Asia Division Executive, at abi.virjee@imarest.org.  

Further press information from:
Judith Patten @ JPPR
34 Ellerker Gardens, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6AA, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8241 1912; Fax: +44 (0) 20 8940 6211
Email: judithpatten@wwmail.co.uk

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