Tribute to CEMA, brushstrokes of its history

In October 1994 the Stier Group, formerly known as CEMA, started its first P&I (Protection and Indemnity) course in the Port of Las Palmas. It was held in Vegueta. In that year nobody provided a classroom in the Port. But such was the success, that the Port Authority itself asked for the course to be completed in its Assembly Hall, and so it even took the credit.

Between 1995 and 2005, most of the members of the Port Community of Tenerife and Gran Canaria were trained at CEMA. Students who today are outstanding managers in first class companies in Spanish ports.

From 1997 to 2010, CEMA created the Master in Maritime Law and International Business, as well as the Master in Environmental Management and Law, approved by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. There were 10 graduating classes with students from all over the world, who soaked up the Canary Islands ports and culture during the 9 months of study in Las Palmas.

During the same period, international training was promoted through the integration of CEMA as an Adherent Member in the TRAINMAR and TRAINFORTRADE programs of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Throughout many years, CEMA kept these relations and programs open for the Canary Islands and thanks to this, UNCTAD and its TRAINFORTRADE Program continues today in the Port of Las Palmas, under the protection of the Port Authority and its Ports Foundation.

CEMA was the pioneer of maritime-port training in the Canary Islands. Throughout its first 20 years it did the impossible to raise the quality of training in the archipelago and to introduce, at international level, the reference of the Canary Islands in this important economic and social area.

“Thanks to the work of the CEMA ant many reigns have grown and are those that today constitute the training offer of the Canary Islands, both on the subsidized and private side,” says Ida Stier.

All the members of the Stier Group, with Ida Stier at the head, are proud that the work of CEMA has contributed to the socio-economic development, not only of the Canary Islands.

The opportunities offered by the Stier Group include providing adequate training so that all those people who want to have a stable job with good salaries can get it. Stier is committed to address this problem and makes a constant appeal to the public, nationally and internationally, so that they know everything it offers and see the wide range of opportunities available in the maritime sector.

A number one training center in: the oil sector (OPITO), the wind sector (GWO) and the maritime sector (STCW/DGMM). This initiative marked a key milestone in the development of professional training in the Canary Islands and strengthened the region’s position as a strategic enclave between three continents: Africa, Europe and America.

The Canary Islands, and especially Gran Canaria, opens up to the world, with the only Spanish training center qualified by international entities.

Ida Stier could write a book about her experience in maritime emergencies, but she keeps the most positive part, that of having helped many crews, many captains and a large number of companies to solve their problems with dialogue, professionalism and calm. This has probably also helped to give relevance to the success of the company, but more than the success, it is the fact of having been able to help others when they needed it most.

Ida is the soul of the Group. The founder, CEO and leader of this company “fell in love” with the island and created the company 30 years ago. In a sector where three decades ago, and until very recently, a woman was not considered qualified or “taken so seriously” in professional fields exclusively occupied by men. This shows what the founder had to “fight” to work and stay in Gran Canaria.