Twenty Bangladeshi maritime trainees have begun their professional careers in China after completing advanced senior seafarer training at Zhejiang International Maritime College.
According to a press statement, the trainees joined the 34-day programme on July 2 under an integrated Recruitment-Training-Employment model that links professional training directly with job placement.
The programme focused on navigation technology and marine engineering, combining classroom instruction with practical training and virtual simulation exercises to strengthen operational skills.
Alongside technical courses, the trainees received basic Chinese language instruction and exposure to China’s maritime industry through a visit to Putuo Shipyard in Zhoushan.
They also toured green ship repair workshops to understand environmental technologies and innovation in shipbuilding, the statement said.
The trainees took part in cultural activities, including fisherman painting, and visited the Zhoushan Museum and the City Planning Exhibition Hall to gain insight into the city’s history and development.
Zhejiang International Maritime College held a graduation ceremony on August 5 for the first batch of the Bangladeshi Advanced Crew Training Programme.
All 20 trainees successfully completed pre-job training for Third Officer and Third Engineer positions and passed ship owner assessments.
Following completion of the course, they entered internship placements with Chinese shipping companies and have already joined vessels, according to the statement.
Ocean Marine Academy Bangladesh Principal M M Jahirul Islam said the initiative reflected growing China-Bangladesh cooperation in maritime education and helped address gaps in advanced training resources in Bangladesh.
The programme is being viewed as a practical example of vocational education cooperation between Bangladesh and China, with the trainees expected to contribute to the shipping industry while strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.
