Namibian Maritime and Fisheries Institute (Namfi) Courses Offered
- Navigation Department
- Engineering Department
- Safety Department
NAVIGATION DEPARTMENT
Deck Officer Training/Nautical Studies
To become a Deck Officer, you have to study Nautical Science. It consists of three main elements, namely:
- Navigation and ship handling,
- Safe operation of a ship and
- Shipboard administration and handling of cargoes
Candidate wishing to follow the path of Deck Officer training must have a Grade 12 certificate with good grades in English, Mathematics and Science. Deck Officers are responsible for the safe navigation of a ship between ports. The following subjects are covered at different levels:
- Terrestrial and Celestial Navigation
- Ship Stability & Naval Architecture
- Electronic Navigation Systems
- Collision Regulations and Ship Master’s Business
- Meteorology and Oceanography
- Maritime Law
- Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems (GMDSS)/Communications
- Seamanship
- Engine Theory
- Mathematics
- Maritime English
- Fishing Technology
Below is the typical structure followed in order to become a Deck Officer on a Fishing Vessel:
- Mandatory Safety Courses: Basic Safety and Familiarisation
- Sea-time
- Pre-seaman course: Basic Seamanship, General Ship Knowledge, etc.
- Sea-time
- Qualified Deck Rating Course
- Sea-time (Structured training program onboard – record book)
- Deck Officer Class 6 Course
- Sea-time as a Deck Officer onboard fishing vessels according to Namibian Manning Regulations
- Deck Officer Class 5 Course
Persons wishing to become Deck Officers onboard vessels other than Fishing Vessels can follow a structured training program leading to a qualification as holder of certificate of competence at Operational Level (Class 4/3) and Management Level (Deck Officer Class 2/1).
Qualifications
Courses leading to qualification as Deck Officer are approved by the Namibian Directorate of Maritime Affairs (DMA). The courses are offered by NAMFI following the agreed minimum standards of the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Conventions on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for seafarers of 1978, as amended (STCW ’78/’95) and Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel of 1995 (STCW-F ’95). Upon satisfying all the requirements of the Directorate of Maritime Affairs, candidates may be issued (by the DMA) certificates of competence for the level that they qualify for.
Requirements
- Candidates who wish to follow a maritime course must compoly with the following requirements:
- Grade 12 certificate with a pass mark in English, Mathematics and Physical Science
- Undergo a medical and an eye sight test.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Marine Engineer Officer Training
Marine Engineers are responsible for the running of engines, maintenance of auxiliary machinery and electrical equipment onboard. Their training program consists of a number of parts over a number of years.
- Stage 1 Pre- sea marine engineering, engineering practice and safety training ( Ratings)
- Stage 2 Guided at sea study program ( Trainee record books) (sea time)
- Stage 3 Watch keeper education and training( both local and international) Class 6, 5 and 4/3
- Stage 4 Second and Chief Engineer education and training ( international) Class 2/1
The following subjects are covered at different levels:
- Mathematics
- Stability
- Maritime English
- Basic Engineering Science
- Welding
- Maritime Law
- Electricity
- Manual Training
- Operation and Maintenance
- Engineering Drawings
- Thermodynamics
- Mechanical Science
- Industrial Chemistry
Engineering Workshop training is also required for training in the following types of work:
- Hand and power tools
- Machine tools
- Fabrication, welding, joining and cutting
Qualifications
Upon satisfactory completion of training and assessment at different stages and subject to meeting all the requirements of the DMA, students may be able to obtain academic certificates from NAMFI which leads to different certificates of competence as appropriate from the authority. The courses are offered by NAMFI following the agreed minimum standards of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Conventions on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for seafarers of 1978, as amended (STCW ’78/’95) and Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel of 1995 (STCW-F ’95).
Career Opportunities
Upon completion of a class course and receiving certificates of competence from the authority students may become engineers on different types of ships with different ranks as issued by the authority. These range from 3rd engineers to chief engineers on small vessels to chief engineers unlimited.
Requirements
Candidates who wish to follow a maritime course must compoly with the following requirements:
- Grade 12 certificate with a pass mark in English, Mathematics and Physical Science
- Undergo a medical and an eye sight test.
SAFETY DEPARTMENT
Safety at Sea
Work at sea has never been without danger, and the maritime industry has a long and growing roll of honor of men who have lost there lives in the performance of their work. Fortunately, loss of life in most types of vessels are now, less frequent than it was only a few generations ago, but no technological advances can fully eliminate the forces of the sea and other natural dangers which seafarers have to face. It is also not possible to eliminate the human errors or to make the tools and equipment we use on board vessels completely accident-proof.
Proper use of safety gear may not always prevent accidents, but by making seafarers safety conscious and preparing them to face hazardous situations on board vessels, and to deal with it in a proper way when it occurs, reduce the seriousness whenever it occurs…and this is where the Safety department has the responsibility to develop, train and offer maritime safety courses up to global standards that has been set forth by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and supervised by the Namibian Directorate of Maritime Affairs (DMA). To ensure, safety of a life at sea is a Priority, the safety department offers the following:
Marine Fire fighting
A fire can be your friend or your enemy. Out at sea when disaster strikes in the form of a Fire on board your vessel it is your responsibility, as a seafarer to deal with it. At NAMFI we simulate real fires and the proper use of fire fighting equipment. Students get exposed to heat and smoke, just like in a real situation.
Survival at sea
Your ship is your safest haven, but when your ship is no longer safe and the order has been given to abandon your vessel…your knowledge, skills and training will count. This is where the safety department arms you with the basic principals of surviving out at sea.
The interesting part of the course is students get to familiarise themselves with a situation which they will find themselves in the event of staying afloat and alive. Students get the opportunity to enter the water from a height, don immersion suits, inflate liferafts and most important to familiarise themselves with the safety equipment available in a survival situation.
First aid at sea
When a medical emergency happen out at sea, it is the responsibility of the Captain to take the necessary steps to provide Medical Care to the injured until they reach the nearest port. The crew is also armed with the basic elementary first aid course which form part of the Mandatory Basic Safety and Familiarization course for all seafarers.
The Department has two areas of operation. The principal area of operation is the Walvis Bay campus and the secondary area of operation is the Luderitz satelite campus.
Training
The following courses are offered in the Safety Department
- Basic safety and familiarization
- Advanced Safety Courses
- Refresher Courses
- Tailor-made Courses
Basic safety and familiarization (consisting of the following modules):
- Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (STCW 95 )
- Personal Survival techniques(STCW 95 )
- Elementary First Aid(STCW 95 )
- Fire fighting and Fire Prevention(STCW 95 )
- Advance Safety Courses (consisting of the following modules):
- Proficiency in Survival Craft Course
- Advance First Aid (First Aid at Sea)
- Advanced Training in Fire Fighting
- Medical Care Course