Today the group visited Bernard Schulte Shipmanagement Training Center (BSM), which was the first maritime training center in Cyprus. Since the organization was the first of its kind on the island, it had a leg up in the industry. It was interesting to learn the steps that come before the maritime supply chain. One of the first things we did during the site visit was watch individuals go through a simulation where they were a crew on a large ship vessel. It was fascinating to learn all the different precautions and procedures that must be taken in order to manage a sizeable cargo-carrying ship

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Once again, we were taught about the rise in sustainable fuels and how more shipping companies are trying to use these practices to reduce harm to the environment. Based on the fact that alternative fuels have been a repeated subject throughout our site visits, I predict that they will be one of the largest steps to reducing emissions from shipping companies in the future.

Another part of the BSM site visit that I found interesting was how most of the accidents that happen with big ships are due to human error. With the rise of AI in the future, I believe that artificial intelligence will take over many roles that are currently occupied by human employees. If this takes place, the number of accidents in shipping vessels may decrease.

Later in the day, we traveled to Omodos Village and viewed the Timios Stavros Monastery. I find all the religious buildings to be an amazing way to learn about Cyprus’s culture. The architecture tells a story about what empires have ruled at different times since the monastary was created. All the churches, monasteries, and mosques are beautiful, and they display how much the Cypriots cherish their religion. The village itself was charming, and the people were very nice.