Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) opened a new FRS (fire, rescue & service) Center and Safety Training Academy in Antwerp, Belgium.
“The opening of new safety service training facilities around the world will play a vital role in the growth of our total safety offer,” said. Andrew Sheriff, Business Director Safety. “Centers also housing a Safety Academy, such as this one, allow us to focus on specialized training alongside the ongoing development of our safety technicians. With this set-up we can bring through a new generation of expertly-trained safety service personnel.”
Antwerp was seen as a key location for expansion.
“The port of Antwerp is one of the most central in Europe and because the estuary is navigable by capesize ships (over 100,000 gt) it has become one of Europe's largest sea ports,” said Roger Gundermann, WSS Regional Safety Training Manager. “Our Belgian safety and technical services are already in great demand and we expect this new facility to quickly become a centre of excellence, further complementing our European FRS offer.”
In addition to safety services, the centre will also run a welding training program focusing on safe use of welding equipment and systems, as well as good welding practice.
WSS’s Total Safety offer takes a three-strand approach; its worldwide safety academy program is backed up by provision of a wide portfolio of safety products and services, as well as the development of a number of eLearning packages and an online service update system. Sheriff said:
WSS runs 98 safety service offices globally and carries out 21,000 safety services annually. It also operates 42 Liferaft Exchange (LRE) stations supporting over 1,000 key ports. It holds global approvals from ABS, DNV, Lloyds Register, RMRS, RINA, Korean Register, ABS, GL according to Z17 – the WSS FRS Service also holds ISO 9001:2008 Global approval.