As Ist Batch of Engine Room Simulator Trainees Get Certificates 

trainees in one of the Simulators at the Academy.

With the Restructuring and Repositioning of the  Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN on course and progressing, the of the Institution, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (Rtd) has expressed profound appreciation to the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Transportation, FMOT and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for their support in the transformation of the school into a world-class maritime education and training institution.

training session at MAN

Speaking recently during the presentation of the certificates to the first batch of trainees in the Engine Room Simulator (Operational Level) Course following their successful completion of training at the Academy, the Rector said the journey to bringing the Academy at par with it’s counterparts in the global maritime scene began in 2018 with the commencement of the procurement of top-notch training facilities, installation  and their launching  for national development.

Speaking with our correspondent via phone on the graduation of the trainees, Effedua said “It is a thing of joy, it has been a tedious, hectic journey. We will not be where we are if not for the support and backing by the government. The FMOT has stood by us, walked and worked with us in the quest to meet and comply with standards set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)”.

The Rector expressed his confidence that with continued assistance by  the Federal Ministry of Transportation and NIMASA,  the new status of MAN as one of the very best Maritime Education and Training Institutions in the world will be sustained and improved upon.

The Rector, during his interaction with the first batch of trainees in the Radar Navigation, Radar-Plotting and use of ARPA (RNRPA), expressed his happiness with the Academy’s commencement of Simulator-based Courses using the most modern Simulators in the world with the approval of NIMASA. He reminded the participants that the Academy with NIMASA’s approval now has on offer twelve (12) simulator-based courses for the training of seafarers and their professional development.

“Foreign exchange would be saved by the country through the availability of the simulator-based courses in the Academy and at very considerable fees too. Like i have said severally, we are not after profit but to build capacity and ensure that competence, efficiency and professionalism required in Maritime, Oil and Gas Operations are imparted on Nigerians at minimal cost because the equipment must be maintained for future use and needs” Effedua said

“Today is yet another memorable day for us at the Academy, because we have graduated the first set of students from our newly developed simulator- based courses. I am highly appreciative of the roles played by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the management of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency towards the realisation of this Academy’s aspiration. This feat, though it was not an easy one, would not have been achieved without their unflinching supports”, the Rector declared.

One of the pioneer batch students, an ex-cadet and a Third Engineer, World Carrier Shipmanagement, Engr. Patrick Audu, expressed his satisfaction over the quality of training he received, noting that the training facilities, learning environment and quality of instructors are of international standard.

He commended the management of the Academy for raising the bar of education and training in the institution and called on other industry workers to endeavour to acquire their various training at the Academy instead of spending money to travel abroad for a training they can get in Nigeria at even a cheaper rate.

“I must say that I am very impressed at the new look that my alma mata is wearing, it is quite impressive. I was here as a Cadet in 2014, I know how it was back then, coming back to see the level at which the institution has been transformed is quite encouraging. I want to appreciate the management of the Academy for putting this in place and I want to tell them to ensure it is sustained. I also want to encourage my colleagues in the industry to come and get trained at the Academy instead of going abroad to spend money on a course they can get at the Academy and at a cheaper rate”, he noted.

Stakeholders have opined that Nigeria’s premier maritime education and training centre, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria is now a world-classed Academy considering  the quality of training facilities, competent instructors, conducive learning environment, structures and facilities which exists in the School.

Courses

With the acquisition of high quality Simulators, the Academy now offers the following twelve Courses: Ship Simulator & Bridge Teamwork (SSBT); Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) General Operators Certificate (GOC) Course and Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS).

Others courses available are Radar Navigation, Radar Plotting and Use of ARPA (RNRPA); Liquid Cargo & Ballast Handling Simulator (LCBHS); Bridge Watch-Keeping Preparatory Course (BWPC); Engine Room Simulator (Operational Level) Course (ERSOL); Engine Room Simulator (Management Level) Course (ERSML); High Voltage Course (HV); Auxiliary Engine Familiarization Course (AEFC); Boiler Familiarization Course (BFC) and Engine Room Watchkeeping Preparatory Course (ERWPC).

The Rector told Maritime Nigeria that Academy’s Simulators are the latest in the world of simulation. He said MAN’s Simulators are not generic but custom made to meet the current training needs in the maritime industry.

“For Instance, the Multi-functional Classroom Simulator, has eight Simulators embedded in it and has the capacity to hold different Courses at different times for both Engine and Deck students and can accommodate up to thirty trainees at a time”, the Rector stated.

“With the Full Mission Engine and Full Mission Deck Simulators, real life Engine Room and Deck situations can be simulated to give trainees real life sea experiences. While the Full Mission Deck Simulator can simulate any type of vessel including Warship, Tanker vessels- LNG, LPG Oil Tankers, the Full Mission Engine can simulate the movement of various engine parts and everything that goes on in a real engine room situation including engine room watch keeping, monitoring of lubrication oil and moving parts of the engine”.

“We also have the Ocular Vision Simulator which when worn on the head launches the trainee into a virtual engine room where they can operate functions like operating of valves, switching on and off of machineries within the engine of a ship and other operational functions” the Rector, commonly referred to as Professor of excellence by his Naval colleagues and friends said

Statutorily, The Maritime Academy of Nigeria established in 1977, is nigeria’s premier maritime education and training centre. It was originally designed as an integrated institution for the education and training of shipboard officers, ratings and shore-based management personnel. The scope of the college was later upgraded by the promulgation Decree No. 16 of 1988 with a statutory mandate to train all levels and categories of personnel required for the effective and efficient operation of all facets of the Nigerian Maritime Industry.

As heart warming developments unfold frequently at the Academy, stakeholders are optimistic that the dark days of MAN are gone for good.