BSM hosts transformative maritime summit as the company inaugurates its new training centre

Published on 03 Jul 2025

Last week, Ghana took centre stage in the global maritime conversation, hosting a powerful summit event that culminated in the grand opening of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement’s (BSM) state-of-the-art Maritime Training Centre (MTC) in Accra.

Held under the banner "Navigating the Future: Setting Sail Under Africa’s Star”, the summit brought together maritime leaders, educators, policymakers, and innovators from across the globe—united by a shared mission: to unlock Africa’s vast potential as a resilient and strategic force in the global shipping industry.

Chairman of the BSM Management Board Ian Beveridge delivers the welcome address at the Crewing Summit, highlighting the region’s growing importance in the global maritime workforce.
Renegade futurist and ecocentrist KD Adamson delivers a compelling keynote address on trends shaping the future of the maritime industry.
Maritime future rooted in people, innovation, and unity

The summit opened on 25 June with a compelling call to action from BSM Chairman Ian Beveridge, who underscored Africa’s untapped potential: “Africa is a massive continent, with over 30,000 km of coastline… yet only 3% of the world’s seafarers come from Africa.” He challenged the industry to form deeper partnerships that empower local talent and infrastructure, while positioning the continent as a global maritime hub.

Renowned futurist KD Adamson set an inspiring tone in her keynote, urging the maritime sector to focus not just on technology—but on people, culture, and compassion.

Throughout the day, dynamic panels explored themes such as empowering Africa’s youth, addressing infrastructure gaps, and tapping into green energy potential. BSM CEO Sebastian von Hardenberg reiterated the company’s commitment to operational excellence, diversity, and showcasing African seafarer quality to shipowners: “There is no way to talk shipowners into this; we have to show them,” he stated, referencing BSM’s growing pool of nearly 700 seafarers from the region.

A historic milestone: The inauguration of BSM MTC Ghana

On 26 June, the momentum carried forward with the official opening ceremony of BSM’s sixth global Maritime Training Centre, located on the Regional Maritime University (RMU) campus in Accra.

This cutting-edge facility is designed to deliver advanced training for cadets, officers, and hotel service professionals—serving not only Ghana but the broader West African region.

A historic milestone: The cutting of the ceremonial ribbon marks the official opening of BSM’s new state-of-the-art Maritime Training Centre in Ghana.

Eva Rodriguez, Director HR Marine at BSM, adds: “Our new MTC in Accra represents more than just an investment in infrastructure—it’s an investment in people, in skills, and in the future of maritime excellence on the continent. Our journey in Africa will continue, and we remain committed to expanding opportunities and strengthening local capacity for years to come.”

The event drew an energetic and diverse audience, including maritime professionals, government dignitaries, and academic leaders, all committed to shaping a sustainable and inclusive future for Africa's maritime industry.

From left: RMU University Registrar Dr. Njie Baboucarr, BSM Group General Manager for Training and Development Capt. Gurpreet Singh Ahluwalia, Director General of Ghana Maritime Authority Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Gambia Hon. Ibrahim Ebrima, RMU Vice Chancellor Dr. Jethro Brooks Jnr, Chairman of the BSM Management Board Ian Beveridge, BSM Director HR Marine Eva Rodriguez, The Chancellor and Board Chairman of the RMU and Minister of Transport and Aviation in Sierra Leone Ambassador Alhaji Fanday Turay, BSM CEO Sebastian von Hardenberg and Bernhard Schulte Fleet Management Project Manager Christoph Schulte

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