THE Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) on Tuesday unveiled an upgraded suite of training simulators which will be run on alternative energy.

The 125-kilowatt solar energy system will provide support for the special simulators, 60 computers and communication infrastructure, and will meet 20 per cent of the institute’s power needs.

The project was undertaken at a cost of $162 million, $135 million of which was sourced from the Universal Service Fund (USF).

CMI is the only institution in the Caribbean with ISO: 9001: 2008 certification and International Maritime Organisation white-listed status, which means that it is endorsed to train and certify graduates at an international standard. This status is heavily dependent on the use of state-of-the-art simulators in training. The USF-financed upgrade means that it continue to deliver international level certification for seafarers and other professionals in Jamaica and the wider region.

In 1998, Caricom recognised CMI as the preferred centre for regional maritime education and training. In that same year, the institute’s Diploma in International Shipping and Logistics obtained academic recognition from the World Maritime University, enabling CMI graduates to matriculate into its degree programmes.