International Maritime Lecturers Association (IMLA) is a no-border forum: a round table for discussions on sea-related issues.

IMLA first came into being in 1977 when a training course on Maritime English for teachers from different countries was organized in Plymouth, UK. It held its first major conference in June 1980, when the Association’s constitution was adopted. Here its aim is clearly stated: “to promote contact and cooperation between Maritime Lecturers of all disciplines and to develop a body of professional expertise”. This it attempts to fulfill at its regular international conferences and through this portal.

From the outset the Association recognized that special interest groups are a feature of MET and, as a result, has established three Sub-Committees to operate under the IMLA umbrella:

  • Sub-Committee on the International Navigation Simulator Lecturers Conference (INSLC),
  • Sub-Committee on the International Conference on Engine Room Simulators (ICERS),
  • Sub-Committee on the International Maritime English Conference (IMEC).

The 28th International Maritime Lecturers Association Conference (IMLA28) and 33th International Maritime English Conference (IMEC33) is organized by the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, Varna, Bulgaria, together with National University “Odessa Maritime Academy”. IMLA28 will be held in 6th to 9th of September 2023 and IMEC33 will be held on 6th of September 2023 at Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, Varna, Bulgaria.

IMLA28 constitutes a place where different groups involved in maritime training meet: the simulator users, the simulator developers, the researchers, the classification societies and the maritime authorities from all over the world.  It is an interactive global event that promotes an exchange of knowledge, experience, views, research results and the identification of common problems with respect to maritime education and training among participants from different countries representing their respective agencies and institutions.

Participation in IMLA28 will provide the companies with wonderful opportunities for communication with maritime professionals, and favour business partnership establishment.

We, then, at the Local Executive Committee, on behalf of the International Maritime Lecturers Association, encourage you to present papers and/or display products.