The Australian University (AU) hosted a high-level maritime roundtable at its campus, bringing together senior representatives from Kuwait’s key maritime organizations to discuss future needs, training pathways, and collaborative development of the nation’s maritime workforce.
The meeting was chaired by Eng. Sager Al Sharhan, Assistant to the President for Support Services at AU, who welcomed participants and emphasized AU’s commitment to supporting Kuwait’s strategic sectors through academic and professional training programs. Attendees included officials from the General Directorate of Coast Guard, Kuwait Ports Authority, Kuwait Oil Tanker Company, Kuwait Oil Company, and the Ministry of Defense, as well as AU’s Maritime Department leadership team.
Attendees at the meeting included: Naval Colonel Musaed Abdul Salam Al Shatti, Assistant Director General of the General Directorate of Coast Guard; Colonel Abdulrahman Al Awadhi, Training Programs Planning and Evaluation Department; Colonel Majid Al Shukri, Head of the Seafarers Affairs Section, Maritime Transport Department; Colonel Staff Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Noori, Head of the Study Leave Division at the Ministry of Defense; Naval Lieutenant Colonel Staff Meshari Al Hamad, Senior Training Officer at the Ministry of Defense; Army Captain Fahad Nasser Al Amir, Ministry of Defense; Captain Anwar Bouftein, Director of Fleet Personnel Affairs Group at the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company; Captain Eissa Al Ayyar, Team Leader of Port Operations II, Marine Operations Group at the Kuwait Oil Company; Mr. Shamlan Al Hasawi, Director of the Training and Research Department at the Kuwait Ports Authority; Captain Abdullah Al Saeed, Head of the Marine Pilots Section at the Kuwait Ports Authority; Mr. Abdullah Shams Al Din, Manager of Maritime Technical at AU; and Captain Liam Toner, Senior manager of Maritime Operations and Quality at AU
Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between government, industry, and academia to align training programs with Kuwait’s maritime needs. AU presented its existing and proposed academic pathways, designed to meet international standards while supporting national workforce requirements.
Representatives from all organizations expressed strong support for continued collaboration, and joint efforts to raise awareness of maritime careers among Kuwaiti youth. AU concluded the meeting by thanking all partners for their commitment to strengthening Kuwait’s maritime future and agreed to continue working closely to accelerate program approvals and sector-wide development.
