After 20 years, we have made legal changes and for the first time we have enabled the taking of professional exams for ship captains and ship crews, which is a step forward in the professionalization of inland navigation and raising the level of safety in water traffic, Macedonia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport AleksandarNikoloski said in Ohrid on Thursday.
“When I was appointed Minister of Transport, I faced this problem and together with the Port Authority and the expert services in the transport sector within the ministry, we discussed and found ways. Certain legal and bylaw changes needed to be made in order to enable these exams to be taken. Until now, they were conducted abroad, which meant an additional burden on those involved in this work and of course meant lower safety in navigation. At the first exam, one master of a ship for managing an international waterway, which is the highest rank, eight master of a ship for managing a state waterway, one deckhand, six sailors received certificates and I am especially glad that for the first time in Macedonia we have a female Master of a ship, which means that this is a job that anyone can do. This is something that we want to stimulate in the period ahead of us in order to regulate navigation in the country and have a higher level of safety,” said Minister Nikoloski.
Nikoloski stresses that a new vessel was purchased for the needs of the Captain’s Office, a survey of the port in St. Naum and the city port in Ohrid was carried out, new projects for them were announced and a joint project with the Municipality of Ohrid for reconstruction of thelakeside.
