A few weeks before the commissioning of the deepwater port of Tibar Bay planned for mid-September, Timor Port have launched a huge training plan for their staff. More than 190 Timorese employees are currently working to acquire all the essential skills for the exercise of their functions.

These training courses are provided locally and abroad by authorised organisations, including the AGL Pan-African Port Training Centre (CFPP) in Côte d’Ivoire and the Indonesian training centre PT Pendidikan Maritim dan Logistik Indonesia (PMLI). They also involve trainers and certified technicians from France, Congo, Senegal and China, with the support of partner equipment manufacturers such as ZPMC and Konacranes.

For specific functions, the training plan is spread over six months. It concerns various operational professions: gantry and crane operators, electromechanics, welders for advanced handling equipment, users of operating platforms and many others. The new recruits are also deployed in the field and practise in real conditions to ensure optimal handling of the equipment and business software.

“By September, our employees will be ready to face the new challenges that await them. They will also be the first to work in jobs that were previously unknown in Timor-Leste and to handle state-of-the-art equipment that requires precise know-how. The strategic plan we have put in place includes the transfer of technology and skills to help all communities acquire and enrich their professional knowledge,” says Rafael RIBEIRO, Chairman of Timor Port.

Future training plans in QHSE, technical and other areas are also being developed. Some staff will also be qualified to train the new arrivals in turn. Timor Port is also envisaging a partnership with the Tibar Training Centre as well as with local universities and companies in order to accompany the increase in the skills of their employees.