Improving the quality of Vietnamese crew members to meet international maritime requirements

On the afternoon of August 25, at the headquarters of the Japan Shipbuilding Union (JSU), the Vietnamese delegation led by Comrade Ngo Duy Hieu, Standing Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, Head of the Project Management Board for Improving the Quality of Vietnamese Sailors (VSUP), attended the 83rd VSUP Project Management Board Meeting.

Participating in the Vietnamese delegation were comrade Mai Le Loi - Chairman of the Trade Union of Vietnam National Shipping Lines and representatives of Vietnam National Shipping Lines... On the Japanese side, Mr. Ikeya Yoshiyuki, Head of the International Committee of the Japanese Marine Workers' Union, representatives of Inlaco Japan Company and the Japan International Sailors' Association (IMMAJ) participated as observers.

According to the agenda, the delegates confirmed the Minutes of the 82nd Meeting; listened, discussed, and contributed opinions to the management and administration reports, financial statements for 2025 and the first months of 2026 for the courses being implemented at the Project (including English training courses and short-term professional training courses).

One of the key contents of the meeting was to discuss the contents of the Memorandum of Extension of the VSUP Project for the period 2027 - 2030. The parties also exchanged and agreed on the direction of project implementation in the next phase, in which it is expected to add many new training contents, closer to the actual needs of businesses, focusing on meeting the requirements of professional skills as well as the increasingly high requirements of international conventions, standards on safety, environmental protection, green ports and green transportation, and the Maritime industry is also undergoing rapid changes.

The Project to Improve the Quality of Vietnamese Seafarers is one of the practical cooperation programs between the Trade Union of Vietnam National Shipping Lines and the Japanese Marine Workers' Union under the chairmanship of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour with the aim of improving the quality of the contingent of Vietnamese officers and sailors, capable of adapting to new requirements of the international maritime industry through training, fostering and knowledge update activities. Thereby, contributing to improving the competitiveness of Vietnamese officers and sailors, creating more opportunities to access stable jobs and good incomes on Japanese and international fleets.

The continued implementation of the Project in the period 2027 - 2030 is expected to open a new phase of cooperation with more practical training content, close to the needs of businesses and development trends of the sea transport industry, affirming the effectiveness of the cooperation model between relevant organizations of Vietnam and Japan, and at the same time enhancing the role of the Vietnam Trade Union in caring for, protecting and accompanying union members and workers with specific, practical activities directly related to the professional development of workers.

At the end of the meeting, the delegates agreed to continue to coordinate the implementation of the contents that have been discussed, and at the same time prepare for the organization of the 84th Project Management Board Meeting scheduled for the end of February 2027 in Hanoi.

Previously, the delegation had a courtesy meeting with Mr. Mitsuharu Matsuura - President of JSU and Mr. Shinichi Tanaka - Vice President of JSU.

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