Hong Kong tackles its dockyard skills crisis with shiprepair training incentive.

(From Lloyds List)

Byline: Candidates will be able to join scheme as students or skilled workers from other industries, writes Keith Wallis

A SHIPREPAIR training incentive scheme will be launched today to encourage more people to join Hong Kong's dockyard industries in the face of a looming skills crisis.

Economic development permanent secretary Eva Cheng confirmed last week that the scheme, which will be administered by the Vocational Training Council, would be launched soon but she did not specify a date.

She said the aim is 'to attract more people to the shiprepair industry, which is facing a serious shortage of skilled workers. The first training under this new scheme will be on shiprepair welding. Depending on the industry's demand, the scheme may be extended to other shiprepair skills.'

Under the scheme, candidates will be able to join either as students who have completed a pre-employment course or as skilled welders who are joining the shiprepair sector from another industry.