The Seamen’s Training Centre expanded its training syllabus in 2000 to incorporate information on marine industrial safety-related port regulations applicable to Hong Kong. In addition to tailor-made courses offered to parties with special needs, new subjects focusing on safety issues were added to cover such issues as safety requirements for shipboard work. A year later, the Seamen’s Training Centre replaced the Nautical Training School as the provider of training programmes to the staff of the Marine Department.

As its name could no longer reflect the full nature of the programmes it offered, the Seamen’s Training Centre was renamed the Maritime Services Training Institute (MSTI) in 2003, while the advisory board was renamed from the Merchant Navy Training Board to the Maritime Services Training Board. The MSTI provides comprehensive training to secondary school graduates and professional training to in-service personnel regarding local standards and the international requirements of the marine industry.

Other than providing training, the MSTI also helps graduates to explore placement and employment opportunities on ocean-going vessels as well as on high-speed craft and river-trade vessels.