West Africa School of Shipping - Whitestoneshipbrokers

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Whitestone Shipbrokers Ghana Limited, in partnership with the West Africa School of Shipping, successfully hosted a two-day training programme on “International Trade Cycle: The Sale, Finance, Carriage, Insurance & Its Associated Risks” from 25th to 26th June 2024 at the Airport West Hotel, Accra.

Training Overview

Participants from various esteemed organisations—including Donewell Insurance, Olam Cocoa Processing Ltd, ENSafrica Ghana, and CN Terminal Co. Ltd—took part in the comprehensive training.

Key topics covered included:

  • Introduction to International Trade

  • International Sale of Goods and Commercial Terms (Incoterms)

  • The Role and Significance of Transport Documents

  • Insurance of Goods in Transit

  • Risks in International Trade and Risk Mitigation

  • Methods of Payment and Associated Risks

  • Understanding the UCP 600 and Its Application

  • Bank Guarantees in International Trade

  • Fraud Risks in Trade Finance

The training featured interactive sessions, multimedia presentations, practical problem-solving scenarios, and formative assessments to reinforce learning outcomes.

At the end of the programme, all participants received certificates of participation and branded souvenirs.


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Whitestone Shipbrokers Ghana Limited, in collaboration with the West Africa School of Shipping, successfully organized a three-day Port & Terminal Management Training Programme from 23rd to 25th July 2024 for the Operations Staff of Meridian Port Services (MPS).

Training Overview

 

 

 

 

 

 

The programme focused on equipping participants with essential knowledge and best practices in port and terminal operations. Key topics covered included:

  • Best Practices in Port Management

  • Port Competition and Marketing Strategies

  • Terminal Planning and Development

  • Ship Types and Cargo Handling

  • Dangerous Goods Handling

  • Marine Operations and Safety

  • Port Security Measures

  • The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

  • Flag State Jurisdiction and International Maritime Law

  • International Labour Organization (ILO) Standards

  • Environmental Protection and International Conventions

  • Overview of the Ghana Shipping Act, 2006

At the end of the training, participants were awarded certificates of participation and provided with USB drives containing all presentation materials for future reference.


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Training Overview

The West Africa School of Shipping is organising a one (1) day training on the Legal Aspects of Bills of Lading and its Importance in International Trade on Monday, 20th November 2023, in Takoradi at the Grand Favour Hotel.

Why participate in the training?

Shipping documents are critical in facilitating the transportation of goods by sea and other modes of transport. These documents, especially the bill of lading perform different functions and its correct usage is critical in regulating transport liability between the parties to a contract of carriage of goods by sea.

The training workshop will delve into the types, functions, legal implications, and roles of the bill of lading in international trade.

Training Schedule
  • Types of bills of lading
  • Functions of the bill of lading
  • Importance of the bill of lading in international trade
  • The bill of lading and the Seaway bill
  • Letters of indemnity & its applicability
  • Bill of lading & carriage conventions
  • Bill of lading & charter parties

Target Group
  • Banks
  • Insurance Companies
  • Exporters & Importers
  • Freight Forwarders
  • Ship Agents
  • Liner companies
  • Lawyers
  • Shipping Companies
  • All stakeholders in relevant industries
  • Manufacturing Companies
Training Outcome

Participatory and interactive training sessions with practical case studies, multimedia to test the understanding of participants before and after the training.

Training Modalities
Date: 20th November 2023
Time: 08:30hrs to 15:00hrs
Venue: Grand Favour Hotel, Takoradi
Training Package
  • Breakfast & Lunch
  • Notebook & Pen
  • Pen drives containing course materials.
  • Certificate of participation

Profile of Facilitator

Gertrude Adwoa Ohene-Asienim (FICS) is the Executive Director of Whitestone Shipbrokers and West Africa School of Shipping.

She is a Chartered Shipbroker, Lecturer and Maritime Consultant with over twenty years’ combined experience in Shipping, Oil & Gas, and Academia specialising in International Trade Transactions, Marine Insurance and Maritime Law.

She has worked in the field of seismic acquisition, FPSO operations and management, shipbroking, maritime labour, and procurement, having worked previously as Country Manager for PGS Ghana, Yinson Gazania Operations, OMA Labour & Procurement and Offshore Shipbrokers Ghana.

Gertrude is a Part – Time Lecturer at the Regional Maritime University, Accra, Ghana, and a member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Global Customs and Trade Facilitation Commission.

She is Membership Committee Chairperson, a member of the Controlling & Executive Councils, an Assessor and Assistant examiner of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), London. She is President of Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) Ghana.

She holds a Master of Laws degree in Maritime Law from the University of Oslo, Norway and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, London, UK.

 


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Introduction

Whitestone Shipbrokers & West Africa School of shipping organised a three-day bespoke training for Cross Energy Ghana and Senegal staff on the Topic Chartering of Offshore (Oil and Gas) Support Vessels on September 8th, 11th – 12th September 2023. The venue for the training was the West Africa School of Shipping at TDC Towers, Community 2, Tema.

Training Overview

The training imparted knowledge in understanding the fundamental principles of chartering of ships, the various chartering arrangements, voyage, time and bareboat and review of specific contracts applicable to the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry.

Facilitators

The facilitators for the training were Edem Ayatteh FICS a Marine Superintendent and Gertrude Adwoa Ohene-Asienim FICS, a Chartered Shipbroker, Lecturer, and a Maritime Consultant.

All participants received certificates of participation.

           


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Introduction

Whitestone Shipbrokers & West Africa School of shipping organised a two-day training on International Trade Cycle, Documentation, Practical Cargo Clearance, Demurrage and Detention on August 9th – 10th , 2023. The venue for the training was at the West Africa School of Sipping premises.

Participants were from AngloGold Ashanti, Olam, Logic Logistics, Nungua Warehouse, JSA, and Sonapack Ghana Limited.

Training Overview

The training imparted knowledge to practitioners on steps, regulations and methods used in acquiring goods, shipment and the processes involved in clearance and ways to avoid unnecessary cost. The training was participatory and interactive with practical studies.

Facilitators

The facilitators for the training were Natheniel Kojo Nti (FICS) Nathaniel Kojo Nti is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, UK, Gertrude Adwoa Ohene-Asienim, a chartered Shipbroker, lecturer and maritime consultant, Lipton Baffour Nsoah is the Deputy Operations Manager Ghana Link Network Services Ltd, and Charles Darling Asiedu Sey, a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG)

Certificates for participation were given to all participants.

         

                                        


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Whitestone Shipbrokers & West Africa School of shipping organised a two-day training on Marine Insurance at the Airport West Hotel, Accra. This event took place on October 11th – 12th , 2023.

Participants were from insurance companies, Insurance Broking firms, and Shipping Agencies such as, Donewell Insurance, Millenium Insurance, ASCOMA Ghana Ltd, Imperial General Assurance, Phoenix Insurance, Sanlam General Insurance, OMA Ghana and Ivory Coast.

Training Overview

The training provided a deeper understanding of marine insurance principles, mutual insurance clubs, marine cargo insurance, and cargo claims with a general overview of appreciating marine insurance practices. The training was participatory and interactive with practical studies.

           

Facilitators

The facilitators for the training were Dr. Emmanuel Kofi Mbiah is a private legal practitioner, Senior Lecturer and a maritime consultant, Gertrude Adwoa Ohene-Asienim, a chartered Shipbroker, lecturer and maritime consultant, and Elijah Owusu Agyeman a chartered insurer, and associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) of the United Kingdom. Certificates for participation were given to all participants.

                                        

 


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Overview of Understanding Shipping Training Course

West Africa School of Shipping in partnership with the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) London, UK is organizing a six (6) weeks training on Understanding Shipping.  The Certificate course provides the basic Fundamentals of Shipping and is a blended learning programme delivered by four (4) online live sessions, an independent e-learning platform and an online assessment resulting in a qualification in Understanding Shipping using the ICS online academy.

Why study Understanding Shipping?

Shipping is the life blood of the global economy. Merchant ships carry around 90% of world trade and generate annual income of over half a trillion US dollars in freight rates. The shipping industry employs millions of people around the globe in diverse sectors and offers exciting and meaningful careers. ‘Understanding Shipping’ was originally developed in cooperation with national governments to strengthen the knowledge and skills pool available to a vital part of their economies and provide school leavers and young people with a powerful development tool as a stepping stone to a rewarding career.

Course content
Module 1 The Planet, People and Trade
Module 2 The Growth of International Trade and Shipping
Module 3 The Ships
Module 4 The Role of Ports
Module 5 The Voyage
Module 6 The Charter Markets and Shipbroking
Module 7 Key Documents in Shipping
Module 8 The Development of Ships; Shipping Cycles and Maths
Module 9 Local Focus: Case study on key regions of West Africa
Who is the course for?
  • New starters
  • Those already working in the sector who need broaden their knowledge and understanding.
  • Those whose work interfaces with shipping and world trade
  • Anyone interested in starting a career in the shipping industry where a comprehensive introduction and a respected qualification can help in gaining an entry-level position.
Key benefits
  • Certified: gain a recognised qualification from the global professional body for the commercial shipping industry
  • Study at your own pace around existing commitments.
  • Available wherever you are located.
  • 100% online course assessment
  • Up-to-date and easy-to-follow course materials developed by shipping experts.
Requirement from participants
  • Good internet connectivity.
  • Quiet studying environment.
  • Present online assignment on time.
  • Navigate through the online portal.

Register with the link below: https://forms.gle/GB4PoCUPe7g3UNd4A.

 

 


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Whitestone Shipbrokers organised a workshop on International Commercial Terms (INCOTERMS 2020) & Letters of Credit in October and November 2022 at Tema and Takoradi respectively. Participants were from both Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire and from freight forwarding, Oil and Gas, Insurance and logistics companies.

       

Facilitators of the training were Gertrude Adwoa Ohene-Asienim FICS, Executive Director of Whitestone Shipbrokers Ghana, and Jane Otuteye a Trade and Sales Manager for Retail and Business Banking Absa Bank Ghana.

Topics discussed under INCOTERMS 2020 included differentiating one TERM from the other and choosing the right TERM for any transaction to minimize cost and increase profit. Jane took participants through trade finance payment methods, Letters of Credit, its associated risks, and application. The training was climaxed with practical case studies and technical discussions, the hallmark of all Whitestone Shipbrokers’ trainings.

                    

 


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Training Overview

The training will provide an overview of shipping and logistics business, risk associated, management and effective coordination.

Training Outline
    • Introduction to shipping and logistics business
    • Risk in shipping and logistics business
    • Communication in shipping business
    • Logistics and transport management
    • Handling and documentation
Warehouse Management

  • The role of the warehousing
  • Responsibilities of the warehouse manager
  • Inventory management, warehouse processes, storage and handling
Shipping Finance

  • Payment method
  • Risk in International trade payment
  • Foreign exchange risk
  • Management of risk
Business Ethics

  • Ethics in shipping business
  • Insurance and documentary fraud
  • International anti-bribery convention
  • Best practices in shipping and logistics business
Training Schedule

Morning Session One – 0900-1030hrs
Discussions – 15 minutes
Facilitator – Krishnan Subramaniam FICS, Dubai

Break (30 Minutes)

Session Two – 1120-1300hrs
Discussion 15 minutes
Facilitator – Nathaniel Kojo Nti FICS

 Lunch Break (45 Minutes)

Session Three – 1400-1530hrs
Discussion 15 minutes
Facilitator – Gertrude Adwoa Ohene-Asienim FICS

Profile of Facilitators

Krishnan Subramanian FICS is a seasoned professional in the areas of Supply Chain, Logistics and Commercial Shipping. He is currently the Strategic Adviser for Transworld group, UAE/India for Tankers and Liquid cargo logistics. He is also a Member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) UAE Steering Committee, Customs & Trade Facilitation Commission. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (FICS) U.K, a trainer for ICS, NAFL Dubai, Maersk Training, Dubai Shipping Agents Association (DSAA) and Bahrain Shipping Agents Association (BSAA). He has equal experience in academics as Academic Advisor at AMET Chennai and Frontline Academy of Logistics and Adjunct faculty at S.P.Jain School of Global Management, Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Dubai and NMIMS, Mumbai.

 

Nathaniel Kojo Nti is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, UK and a Chartered where he serves as the General Secretary of the Institute’s West Africa Branch. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK. He holds an MBA in International Trade from Anhalt University of Applied Science, Department of Economics, Germany, and a BSc. Ports and Shipping Administration from the Regional Maritime University, Accra Ghana. He is a Freight Forwarder and a shipping professional. He currently works with OMA Logistics Ghana Ltd as the Head of Freight Management and lectures at the Regional Maritime University and is a tutor at the West Africa School of Shipping, Ghana.

 

Gertrude Adwoa Ohene-Asienim FICS is the Executive Director of Whitestone Shipbrokers and West Africa School of Shipping. She is a Chartered Shipbroker, Lecturer and Maritime Consultant with over twenty years’ combined experience in Shipping, Oil & Gas, and Academia specialising in International Trade Transactions, Marine Insurance and Maritime Law.
She has worked in the field of seismic acquisition, FPSO operations and management, shipbroking, maritime labour, and procurement, having worked previously as Country Manager for PGS Ghana, Yinson Gazania Operations, OMA Labour & Procurement and Offshore Shipbrokers Ghana.
Gertrude is a Part – Time Lecturer at the Regional Maritime University, Accra, Ghana, and a member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Global Customs and Trade Facilitation Commission. She is Membership Committee Chairperson, a member of the Controlling & Executive Councils, an Assessor and Assistant examiner of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), London. She is President of Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) Ghana. She holds a Master of Laws degree in Maritime Law from the University of Oslo, Norway and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, London, UK.

 

 


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Whitestone Shipbrokers, through its subsidiary, West Africa School of Shipping organised a
training workshop on Cargo Characteristics, Dangerous Goods and Marine Cargo Survey from
the 22 nd to 23 rd February 2023 in Tema, Ghana.

 


The workshop witnessed participants from diverse backgrounds such as insurance, logistics,
shipping, manufacturing, freight forwarding, among others. Participants were from various
countries in West Africa including Cote d’Ivoire Nigeria, Togo, and Ghana.
The facilitators of the workshop were Henry Peter Otchere (GIMS), a certified marine surveyor
with advanced knowledge in liquified gas, oil and chemical tanker cargo operations, container,
and offshore vessels and Gertrude Adwoa Ohene-Asienim FICS, a maritime consultant, lecturer
and the Executive Director of Whitestone Shipbrokers Ghana Limited and West Africa School of
Shipping.
The topics discussed included Types of Cargoes and Their Characteristics, Identification and
Classification of Dangerous Goods, Marking and Labelling, Stowage and Segregation, Legal
Liabilities in Relation to Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Introduction and Types of Marine
Survey, Risk Management and Claims.
The Workshop was highly interactive and included multi-media presentations, problem solving
scenarios and formative assessment (informal testing to ensure participants are really learning).
All participants were presented with certificates of participation and souvenirs.