MLC 2006 EXPERT WELCOMED ABOARD VIDEOTEL TRAINING TEAM

Videotel has welcomed David Dearsley as a new consultant to its thriving team of training specialists. Recently retired as Secretary General of IMEC (International Maritime Employers Committee), he joins Videotel in his capacity as Director of DM Consulting, which offers specialist consultancy services covering international industrial relations advice, recruitment and training services, and guidance on international regulations concerning manpower issues.

Mr Dearsley explained that he has been associated with Videotel for a number of years:

"I have worked with the Videotel team on a number of projects in the past, most recently playing an integral role in the development of its new Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 DVD, CBT and website packages. The company is at the cutting edge when it comes to training and I very much look forward to continuing to work with them during what are interesting times for maritime labour standards and learning."

Mr Dearsley has over 45 years of experience in the shipping industry at sea and ashore, some 25 years of which was working as Deputy Secretary General of the ISF (International Shipping Federation). In 1984, he was appointed by IMO as one of six consultants tasked with producing the revised text for the STCW '95 Convention, and was appointed as Secretary of the ILO Employers Group in 2000, charged with co-ordinating shipowner views on the ILO Maritime Labour Convention. He was also responsible for producing the BIMCO/ISF Worldwide Manpower Supply and Demand for Seafarers Reports 1990-2000, the only authoritative statistics on worldwide availability of seafarers.

Recently, Mr Dearsley was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Maritime Studies for services to international and British shipping by Southampton Solent University, UK, and was also the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement award for recruitment, training and leadership from Lloyd's Ship Manager. He is a well-known speaker at international conferences dealing with all matters concerning manpower - industrial relations, training, motivation and manpower supply - and has a plethora of contacts in the international shipping community including IMO, ILO and employer organisations.

Stephen Bond, Managing Director of Videotel, added:

"It's a great honour to be able to welcome David to Videotel on a more regular basis. With his wealth of knowledge, accolades and experience, he brings unrivalled understanding of all manpower matters and extensive international connections covering all sections of the industry. He will be an invaluable asset to our team as we go about formulating and implementing our plans for the future."

The MLC 2006 Convention

The MLC 2006 Convention has already achieved the target number of ratifications needed to satisfy the tonnage requirements for entry into force (33% of the world fleet) and in only a matter of months, it is expected to have reached the required number of individual country ratifications (30). All ships trading internationally will then be inspected to ensure they meet the standards set by the Convention.

Mr Dearsley contributed substantially to Videotel's work to create a sophisticated and comprehensive MLC 2006 training package, which also included the involvement of other experts from IMEC, ISF, Nautilus, and the Bahamas Maritime Authority. It provides guidance for all those who will be affected by the Convention: shipping company managers, ships' Masters, manning agents, port State control inspectors and government officials from flag States and labour supply countries.

The training course provides an outline of the purpose of the Convention, what it contains and how it works, covering implementation and enforcement. It also includes a useful interactive checklist to assist with compliance. The video programme also explains the content, purpose and working of the Convention and comes with a guide containing all you need to run a two hour training programme.

More information on the MLC 2006 Convention can be found at www.mlc2006.co.uk

To learn more about Videotel and its extensive range of products, visit http://www.videotel.co.uk.

-ends-

Note to editors

Photographs to accompany this press release are available at the Dunelm website at http://www.dunelmpr.co.uk/Videotel-Photogallery-NEW.htm. The captions for the photographs read:

"Videotel welcomes David Dearsley as a new consultant to its thriving team of training specialists. Mr Dearsley has recently retired as Secretary General of IMEC (International Maritime Employers Committee)."