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Food & Beverage

But many operators were unsure as to how go about MCTC aims to keep employees up to date in how and
providing more nutritious meals and adapting meals to suit the what they should be serving up to seafarers through a variety

many nationalities onboard different vessels.of training methods and it is a ield which Mr Bond has great
It was one of the drivers behind the launch of Cyprus-based experience in as he was founder of the maritime e-learning

Marine Catering Training Consultancy (MCTC), which was set up provider Videotel. MCTC’s CEO, Christian Ioannou, has also

three years ago to offer support and training for onboard catering.been in the catering and supply industry for a very long time.
“The MLC is a big driver but it’s not the only driver,” “I wanted to stay within the industry and remain associated

explained Stephen Bond, Chairman, MCTC.in some way with those onboard ship and make sure their
“Most owners do realise that it is better to maintain the standard of life is as best as it possibly could be,” said Mr Bond.

people you’ve got than it is to keep re-hiring them, so if you can MCTC recently opened a joint venture training school in The
do anything to help that... There are a lot of very good owners Philippines offering pre-employment ships’ cook courses, taking

and managers out there who see this as an important thing to trainees through all the basic certiicates that are required.
do but they just don’t know where to go and get the advice.“We started the school with a slightly different slant

He added: “I think it is one of those areas of shipping which is because we are looking at people to remain within the industry
often forgotten. People look at the ‘heavy’ end of it, from the point and not drift away,” said Mr Bond.

of view of things like ballast water and appeasing the charterer MCTC also offers e-learning materials on a Safe Food

and people actually forget that keeping people as best well fed as Handling and Nutrition course, which is carried out onboard
you can onboard ship can help to keep the crew happy.and there are various following assessments to go with it. Mr

“It’s a morale booster and people often don’t just workBond said this was useful for someone such as a messman
for the pay – they work for the conditions and if you can give wanting to become a chef.

moderately good food, as best as you possibly can, then you’re “We are always updating the course with the Paris MoU
more likely to retain people.”and others and in addition to that and the online assessment,

Mr Bond said as well as it being important to provide we’ve also got the weekly contact with those on the vessel,”
nutritious meals to maintain good health it was also vital to explained Mr Bond.

make sure you were catering properly for mixed crews.He said there was constant support for vessels with one-to-
“You’ve got to try as best as you possibly can to provide the food one coaching and menu planning, and for any challenges, MCTC

onboard to cater for the very many different cultural perspectives.”could offer advice either by video conferencing or via the internet.