Maritime education and training agreement signed

Rudi Bowe

The Namibian Ports Authority (NAMPORT) and the Namibian Maritime and Fisheries Institute (NAMFI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on maritime education and training cooperation at Walvis Bay.

NAMPORT that man-ages the ports of Walvis Bay Lüderitz and NAMFI, Namibia’s premier training institution for all maritime personnel who has enjoyed a long standing of amity with many programs of cooperation’s established in the field of maritime education and training over several decades last Friday signed a MOU at Walvis Bay.
By signing the MOU, the institution consents to co-operate in the provision of high-quality training in the area of maritime safety and a cadet training program as well as in the area of exchange of maritime expertise for capacity building and all other services in the areas of common interest which will be identified by the institutions in the duration of the MOU.

Namport’s acting Human Resources Executive, Suama Kalulu said at the signing ceremony that maritime education and training is one of the tools through which Namport’s strategic goals can be driven and achieved and optimising human capital effectiveness can only be realised if we continue to develop competent and motivated employees, hence we place a high premium on human capital.
Kalulu said, “I am confident that through our efforts and commitment we will be able to achieve more and to continue to develop even stronger relationships and will be in a strong position to take on our challenges and lobby for support to our share-holders and other stake-holders.”
“I assure you that NAM-PORT will do whatever to provide the successful implementation of this MOU” Kalulu said.
NAMFI Director Maggy Sam, said that this agreement offers an excellent opportunity to expand the educational and training cooperation between the two organisations as strong emphasis is placed on maritime training and employment creation.
Sam said “Under the agreement, the two organisations will cooperate and develop curriculum in several key, emerging fields of study, primarily cadetship, safety and other programs as the need arises. In the long term, this agreement will not only be an educational cooperation but also a contribution towards Namibianising the maritime industry and its waters.”
“I look forward to see this relationship between these two institutions grow and flourish over the coming years to export qualified and experience maritime professionals to other countries and attract forex into Namibia” Sam added.
“This MOU will go down in the books of NAMFI as its first major achievement as it will be the gate way for more others to come,” Sam said.