DOVER Harbour Board chiefs have revealed they are in negotiations with several universities about establishing a maritime-skills college in the district.

Courses offering general and niche training in areas including marine engineering, marine biology and ecobiology, business management, marine geography and electronic engineering could all be taught at the new facility.

Port bosses say they want a college established to help train their own employees as well as groom local students.

Talks have taken place between DHB and Canterbury Christ Church University and other educational institutions.

DHB chief executive Bob Goldfield said: "It has been a long-running ambition of ours to help establish a marine college of excellence in Dover, dedicated to developing skills and qualifications that are applicable to many marine-related disciplines, including marine engineering, marine civil engineering, marine biology, hydrography and other related areas.

"We are presently in discussion with various academic partners, especially Canterbury Christ Church University, to develop our ideas and to make this ambition and vision a reality for the community, especially for the younger generation, who may be attracted to a marine career on land, rather than at sea.

"We see this as entirely complementary to the other local initiative aimed primarily at merchant marine cadet training and ship crewing, but different in content and target subjects."

DHB director of finance Tim Waggott said the new college would be run separately from a similar maritime business and education centre that is soon to be built by Viking Recruitment in Whitfield.

He insisted that DHB's college would not run in competition with Viking's project but give "another option" to those looking to get involved in the maritime industry.

DHB bosses believe a new centre would also offer a potential revenue stream, although no locations for such a facility or a date for opening have been confirmed.

Barbara Buczek, DHB's head of external and corporate affairs, said: "We have an ambition and this is not just about our own relevant port needs but about responding to the industry's needs as well.

"Dover is a great location – it's on the coastline and DHB can offer practical learning space and access to state-of-the-art equipment.

"We will be able to reveal more once further discussion with interested education providers takes place."