Maritime Academy Trains 4,775 Seafarers, Dockworkers Through Simulator-based Courses

The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, on Thursday said it will train 4,775 Seafarers and Dockworkers for the nation’s maritime sector by 2024.

LEADERSHIP reports that the Seafarers engaged in various simulator-based short courses, such as Ship Manoeuvring Simulator & Bridge Teamwork (SMSBT), Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), General Operators Certificate (GOC) Course, Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), Radar Navigation, Radar Plotting and Use of ARPA (RADAR/ARPA), and Liquid Cargo & Ballast Handling Simulator (LCBHS).

Others are the Engine Room Watchkeeping Preparatory Course(ERWPC), the Bridge Watch-Keeping Preparatory Course (BWPC), the Engine Room Simulator, the High Voltage Course (HV), the Auxiliary Engine Familiarisation Course(AEFC) and the Boiler Familiarisation Course(BFC).

Speaking during a two-day Management Retreat and Ministerial Handholding Session for Performance Management System (PMS) and the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) held in thr Academy recently, the Acting Rector of the Academy, Dr Kevin Okonna, said the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy had helping the Academy secure positive responses from shipping companies and associations, for onboard training opportunities for Cadets of the Academy.

According to Okonna, the academy has increased its staff capacity-building drive to promote expertise and improve standards.

“The academy in 2024 trained 4,775 Seafarers and Dockworkers, provided laptops and desktops to more Staff to improve productivity, increased staff capacity building drive to promote expertise and improve standards, implementation of the PMS of the Federal Government to encourage accountability, amongst others.

“Also, the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy played a vital role in helping the Academy secure positive responses from shipping companies and associations, for onboard training opportunities for Cadets of the Academy,” he noted.

On maintenance of standards of safety courses on offer in the Academy, the Acting Rector said that the Academy is effectively collaborating with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA), adding that the Academy would soon be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central Africa Region, in respect to a course developed by the Academy for the Abuja MOU to enhance deliverables in the sub-region.

He also mentioned that Management has taken necessary steps to register the Nautical Science Cadets with the Institute of Nautical Studies, the Engineering Cadets with the Institute of Marine Engineers, Science and Technologists (IMarEST), and the maritime transport cadets with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Nigeria.

According to him, this is targeted towards ensuring that all Cadets of the Academy derive tremendous benefits from membership in these professional bodies. He also promised to deploy the required resources towards fully deploying the ECMS in the Academy.

However, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has lauded Dr Okonna for his commitment towards effectively implementing the Performance Management System (PMS) reform of the Federal Government of Nigeria in the institution.

Oyetola, who was represented by the director of Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Hajia Ibrahim Kalthum, noted that the Retreat was aimed at driving a successful implementation of the PMS and ECMS in the Academy.

According to Oyetola, the ministry embarked on two key reforms to strengthen performance, promote accountability, and accelerate digital transformation across all its agencies.

“The Maritime Academy of Nigeria, as Nigeria’s foremost maritime education and training institution, must lead by example in embracing these reforms, and the Ministry is glad that the Academy is taking these key reforms seriously,” Oyetola added.