Port Klang Free Zone and Scomi Marine to establish Indian Maritime University Asia Campus

Updated on: Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Scomi Marine, an oil and gas services provider listed on the Main Market of Bursa Securities Malaysia Berhad and an associate of Scomi Group Bhd entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Maritime University (IMU), Intan Asia Sdn Bhd (IASB) and Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ). The MoU serves to establish a framework of cooperation between the four parties for the provision of maritime academic programmes like training, research, consultancy courses and services in Malaysia at a campus to be established in PKFZ.

As provided under the MoU, the parties will undertake the establishment of the maritime academy, whereby a joint management committee and a joint academic committee will be formed to carry out the planning, direction and overall management of the project and the academic curriculum respectively.PKFZ has been identified as the ideal location for setting up the IMU Asia Campus as it offers excellent connectivity and infrastructure facilities.

IMU is a Central University established by the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India under an Act of Indian Parliament 2008, with its headquarters located in Chennai, India. IMU also has regional campuses in Mumbai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam and Cochin in India. Meanwhile, IASB is a private limited company established and existing under the laws of Malaysia; and is carrying on the business of general trading services, transportation and management. Similarly, PKFZ is established under the laws of Malaysia, is an integrated 1,000-acre Free Commercial and Industrial Zone providing facilities for international cargo distribution and consolidation centre. PKFZ is situated in Port Klang, Malaysia, the world’s 15th ranked port in 2009 in terms of throughput volume. Gazetted as a Free Zone, PKFZ incorporates both commercial and manufacturing activities that are further supported by quality and value-added services.

Speaking on the partnership, Shah Hakim Zain, Group CEO of Scomi Group commented, “The establishment of IMU Asia Campus will form a part of Scomi’s corporate social responsibility initiatives in the country. Our intention is to train young Malaysians for a career in shipping industry. In addition, this will also help alleviate the unemployment problem faced by youths. This is a privileged opportunity for Scomi to contribute to the Malaysian education system by providing an academy for our students to choose from with exciting new courses.”

Welcoming the initiative, the PKFZ Chairman Dato’ Lee Hwa Beng added, “It provides PKFZ another nucleus of activity for the free trade zone and they aim to spawn a series of activities around the IMU Asia campus to support the shipping and logistics requirement of the industry. The project will be able to utilize the existing build up facilities in the 4 blocks of office complex in PKFZ immediately.”
The Indian Maritime University Asia campus once established is anticipated to conduct the following courses:
• Diploma in Nautical Studies
• Degree in Nautical Studies
• Degree in Nautical Science
• Degree in Shipbuilding and Repair
• Degree in Maritime Science
• Degree in Maritime Engineering
• Degree in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
• Masters (MBA) in Shipping and Port Management a collaboration with Netherlands Maritime University
• Masters (LLM) in Maritime Law a collaboration with National Law School, India and Maritime Law Institute, Malta.

Port Klang Free Zone and Scomi Marine to establish Indian Maritime University Asia Campus

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