The formal opening of the new facility was marked by a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony and a series of speeches delivered by Ole Sohn – the Danish Minister for Business and Growth, Lars Møller – Mayor of Frederikshavn, Wayne Jones – Head of the PrimeServ Diesel Business Unit, Dr. Stephan Timmermann – Executive Board Member of MAN Diesel & Turbo, along with Poul Knudsgaard – Head of PrimeServ Four-Stroke Denmark and Site Manager of MAN Diesel & Turbo, Frederikshavn, who also hosted the event.
In his opening speech, Knudsgaard said: “ It’s with very great pride I stand here today. It’s really a dream come true for Frederikshavn with a new asset and a clear sign of the company’s transformation from manufacturing to service and knowledge .”
The specific focus and core competencies of the new PrimeServ Academy are centred on propulsion plants, aft-ship solutions, propellers and control systems. Frederikshavn offers general training programmes as well as more specialised ones for specific target groups within a typical shipowner organisation. These range from general understanding of manoeuvring functionality and handling for navigators, through optimised operation, maintenance and repair actions for engineers and superintendents, to in-depth knowledge, fine-tuning and troubleshooting training for specialists.
Instructors at the new academy will host several streams of training sessions. These will range from basic, standard training programmes and/or special, tailor-made training sessions held in Frederikshavn with simulator drills, hands-on full-scale products and test-rig facilities to, for example, optional training performed on-site at a shipowner premises or even aboard a specific ship.
Poul Knudsgaard added: “ Training is a prerequisite for optimising the performance of a plant and safeguarding customers’ investment. In addition, the MAN PrimeServ network promotes a constant and direct exchange of knowledge among customers, suppliers and our Research & Development organisation. This helps us to continuously increase our market orientation and our customers’ satisfaction with our performance. ”
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Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, June 11, 2012; Image: mandieselturbo