Seamanship art of operating a ship or boat

The seamanship is the art of operating a ship or boat that involves a vast knowledge in navigation and a smart understanding of a host of naval disciplines. The degree of such knowledge and practice in these fields determines the quality and standard of a mariner. A good seaman makes a good ship through his qualifications and skills both academic and professional, Said Southern Province Governor Kumari Balasuriya.

The governor said so participating as the Chief Guest at inauguration of the Simulator Centre newly established at the Officer Training Centre of Galle Mercantile Seamen Training Institute (MSTI) at Makuluwa, Galle recently.

She who commended the Galle MSTI for its devoted effort in moulding dignified seafarers with high professionalism and naval etiquette, further stated that at a time the Southern Province was becoming the economic focal point in massive development drive launched by the government aiming at making Sri Lanka , the Asia's Miracle following the hardly earned peace in the country the presence of institutions of such nature bore much significance in producing skilled manpower needed for various development projects.

The governor Continued. Specially with the establishment of Ruhunu Magampura International Mritime Port which will function as an important catalyst for a major economic development in Sri Lanka , the presence of MSTI in the province holds much significance and will be an added advantage for our youth to obtain education and training in modern vocational disciplines of the new era.

She further asserted that she was confident that Galle MSTI would continue with improved dynamism in providing quality maritime education and developing skills of our young people and thereby produce more and more well-rounded and competent mariners who would be capable of working on board any vessel around the world.