Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan’s State Maritime and Ports Agency (SMPA) recently hosted a significant meeting with representatives from the Transport General Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who are on an official visit to the country. This engagement underscores the growing collaboration between the two nations in the maritime sector.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the Saudi delegation received a comprehensive briefing on the SMPA’s current activities, its development trajectory, and the reforms it has enacted in the area of seafarer certification. The meeting served as a platform to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding signed last year, which focuses on mutual recognition of certificates as stipulated by Regulation I/10 of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention). Eldar Majidov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the SMPA, highlighted the significance of this agreement for seafarers from both countries.
Osama Almehmadi, Director of the Seafarers Affairs Department of the Transport General Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, expressed his appreciation for the well-organized meeting. He emphasized the critical nature of mutual cooperation in seafarer certification and the exchange of experiences between the two countries. This collaboration is seen as a vital step in enhancing the maritime sectors of both nations.
During the meeting, discussions also covered key initiatives such as the “My Cabinet” platform introduced by the SMPA for digital management of seafarer documents, the establishment of a unified information system, and strategies for strengthening human resource capacity in the maritime domain. The talks also touched on the implementation of international convention obligations.
Following the discussions, the Saudi delegation toured the SMPA’s examination hall, which is tailored for seafarers and adheres to international standards. The facility is equipped with modern technical tools and examination software, demonstrating the SMPA’s commitment to maintaining high standards in maritime training and certification.