Association of Inland Container Depot Operators Signs MoU with YoungShip Sri Lanka

From left: ACDO Secretary Mohammed Muhsin, Vice Chair Lakshmen Rodrigo, YoungShip Vice Chair Maleena Awn, Secretary Nirmal Dissanayake, and Treasurer Prashan Fernando

In a bold move to further improve the standards of the maritime and shipping industry in Sri Lanka, the Association of Inland Container Depot Operators (ACDO) has signed a key initiative which signifies the two organisations’ commitment of working towards advancing the future of the industry by creating a younger, more inclusive, and collaborative professional atmosphere that allows young maritime professionals to actively participate in the industry early on in their careers by providing a range of opportunities with professional hands-on experience and training opportunities.

Recognised as the apex organisation that represents the Container Depot Operators in Sri Lanka, ACDO signed the MoU to support YoungShip Sri Lanka – a non-profit organisation founded with the mission to support young members of the maritime and shipping industry – to help represent themselves as the premiere youth forum of the ACDO organisation in Sri Lanka.

The collaboration between ACDO and YoungShip provides opportunities for knowledge sharing between youth and experienced professionals, event planning and organisation, and engagement in critical projects related to the maritime and shipping industry. The partnership is expected to ensure that younger leadership can leverage innovation, creativity, technology and fresh perspectives to inject a brand-new thought pattern to further ongoing established processes to improve the industry’s current best practices.

Established in 1983, the mission of ACDO is to protect the interest and address issues of its depot operators in all aspects and provide a platform that enables interaction between the various stakeholders and relevant authorities. Relatively, its younger counterpart, YoungShip Sri Lanka, which was established in 2013, is recognised as the Sri Lankan branch of YoungShip International – a world-renowned professional non-profit organisation for young people working within the global maritime industry.

The youth organisation welcomes members (between the age of 20 to 40) from all areas of the industry (from students to established professionals) who share the passion and belief that young people are the most significant constituents to ensure growth and ongoing success for the industry. Through this venture, the parties are confident that the move will uplift more youth professionals involved in the maritime and shipping industry.

(Source: Daily Mirror)