By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALS laid the corner stone of a $25 million maritime academy yesterday at the former Crystal Cay – now Maritime Cay.

Named in honour of Campbell Shipping Company Limited President Lowell J Mortimer, the Simulator building marks the beginning of the three-phased project.

Mr Mortimer, about five years ago, envisioned a state-of-the-art training

facility to equip individuals to lead the Bahamian maritime sector.

President of the Academy Dr Brendamae Cleare appealed to the general public for corporate sponsors to lower the costs of tuition for students.

“For this type of education,” she said, “it would cost the student roughly $25,000. However because of the way that we are setting up the institution, we are only expecting Bahamians to pay around $3,000. They will have to work; we will give them a work grant (and) they would have to sign a bond so that when they go on the ships they will pay back into LJM. So we are looking for partners so that we can carry out our vision.”

When it opens in September 2014, a one year course in sea faring will be offered to about 55 students with a minimum of three BGCSEs in English, Mathematics and a Science. However, officials will offer an upgrading programme for those who lack the prerequisites, months ahead of the Academy’s opening.

Prime Minister Perry Christie praised Mr Mortimor, who officially launched LJM Maritime Academy in November 2012. He said that upon its completion growth in the Maritime Sector is expected.

“Mr Mortimer has been able to, through his own spirit, enable our country to share in a magnificent way the resultS of what you see now.”

Keynote speaker at the ceremony, Dr Fritz Pinnock, Executive Director of the Caribbean Maritime Institute in Jamaica explained that globally there is a shortage of merchant navy officers, maritime business professionals and marine scientists and technologists.

He urged the Bahamas to do better in making its mark in the maritime sector.

Dr Pinnock pledged to sign the first memorandum of understanding with LJM to expand its training offerings.

Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes and Lady Foulkes,  Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Transport and Aviation, Glenys Hanna-Martin and State Transport and Aviation Minister Hope Strachan and FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis also attended the ceremony.