Namibia’s emerging oil and gas industry presents significant opportunities for local seafarers, but a shortage of internationally certified maritime officers could hamper the country’s ability to fully benefit from the sector, according to maritime entrepreneur and seagoing captain Peter Sylvester.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement meeting, Sylvester, the Managing Director of Breakwater Group, highlighted the urgent need for Namibia to expand maritime training beyond the fishing industry and prepare local seafarers for offshore and merchant marine operations.
However, he pointed out a critical gap in the current certification system. While fishing vessel qualifications allow Namibian officers to command local fishing fleets, they do not qualify them for officer positions on offshore support vessels servicing industries such as marine mining and oil and gas.
“As Namibia moves closer to becoming an oil-producing nation, we must adapt our maritime training and certification systems or continue relying on foreign expertise,” Sylvester said.
He stressed that Namibia’s long-standing pursuit of International Maritime Organization (IMO) whitelisting remains essential. Achieving this status would enable local institutions to issue internationally recognised certificates, opening employment opportunities for Namibian seafarers on foreign-going vessels and reducing the country’s dependence on costly overseas training.
According to Sylvester, sending candidates to South Africa for maritime qualifications can cost between N$300 000 and N$350 000 annually, placing such opportunities beyond the reach of many aspiring officers.
To address the challenge, Breakwater Group has been exploring partnerships with accredited South African training institutions offering blended learning programmes, allowing students to complete theoretical studies online while continuing to work.
Sylvester also called for bridging programmes that would enable experienced fishing vessel officers to transition into offshore and merchant navy careers. He encouraged local officers to remain patient, humble and committed to learning from experienced expatriate professionals, emphasising that competence and experience remain key factors in career advancement within the highly demanding offshore industry.
By Rudi Bowe
