Stephen Bond, the original founder of Videotel, has launched a new company called Marine Media Enterprises, offering a range of seafarer training videos with a focus on seafarer wellbeing.
Videotel was a longstanding maritime e-learning provider that was acquired by KVH in 2014 for a reported $48.9 million, before being sold again to Oakley Capital for $90 million in 2019.
Training topics covered by the new company include mental health, bullying, social isolation, GDPR, cybersecurity, mobile phone safety, and enclosed space entry.
The content also covers shipboard operations during and after the COVID pandemic, drug and alcohol awareness, mentoring, observation skills, incident reporting, financial fraud, just culture, and the master pilot relationship.
Further modules tackle port state control, maritime security, hot work safety, working aloft, drinking water safety, and reducing single-use plastics.
One unique offering from the company is a Donate and Train initiative that will see 25% of the training subscription fee donated to a charity of the subscriber’s choice.
“This is about creating a win-win for the industry,” said Stephen Bond.
“You’re not just buying training. You’re helping someone learn, and at the same time, you’re supporting a charity that is making a real difference in the world.”
