The Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) will invest US$2 million to establish a world-class centre to provide qualified persons with training in the field of industrial automation and mechatronics.

The centre, which will be financed by a grant from the PetroCaribe Fund, will be implemented in partnership with German company, FESTO Didactic, a world leader in industrial automation technologies training.

It will produce certified technicians needed for the maintenance and operation of ports to meet, not just demand in Jamaica, but also regional and international demand.

Making his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 14, Minister of Transport, Works and Housing Dr Omar Davies said this establishment is among several initiatives aimed at re-inventing the CMI and strengthening its role in Jamaica’s economic future.

He informed that the CMI is currently in the process of acquiring software from United States-based company, Siemens PLM, valued at US$50 million, to improve simulation training. The software, he said, will enable CMI to change the way students learn, facilitating learning through simulated training, which is computer-aided practical learning.

He noted that this will also enable the CMI to become the simulation centre of the Americas, equipped with over 50 different simulators satisfying the needs of the land, maritime, and air sectors.

The CMI now boasts a modern simulator centre equipped with nine new state-of-the-art simulators, valued in excess of US$1.5 million, with funding from the Universal Service Fund.

Dr Davies also informed that a number of initiatives will be undertaken as part of the school’s involvement in researching and implementing alternate energy solutions.

Among the projects is a partnership with the Jamaica Public Service for the retrofitting of street lights along the Palisadoes Road and in the Port Royal community.

The minister said existing Cobra street lights have been retrofitted using the CMI’s own patented circuit board. “This retrofitting will reduce energy costs by up to 70 per cent per street light,” he noted.

The CMI is also in the process of establishing a 125KW solar system, which will generate 15 per cent of the energy the institution consumes.

Additionally, the first hybrid wind and solar-powered automated banking machine in the Caribbean, will be installed on the school’s campus by the National Commercial Bank.

–JIS