*By Capt DM Hills
The Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) is an organisation which helps to polish the seaman, bring mental alertness, morals and build confidence in the life of a seaman, it also has the responsibility for approving programmes for new entrants into the Merchant Navy; for ratings and as well as other officer levels.
In Europe new entrant programmes are designed to meet industry needs along with the international regulations laid down by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and enshrined in the Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers (STCW), as well as providing recognized academic and national qualifications. In addition, the programmes are underpinned by, and referenced to, the industry’s National Occupational Standards.
In advance maritime countries, nautical colleges and universities involved in seafarer education and training, develop their own programmes to meet these requirements and seek formal approval of them by the MNTB.
Rating programmes are covered by a range of apprenticeships for deck, engine room and shortly will also include maritime caterer and on-board services apprenticeships. These are available in England and as modern apprenticeships in Scotland.
Officer Cadet programmes are available for deck, engineer and electro-technical specialisation.
But here in Nigeria,this lofty organisation since the exit of Engr MA Yussuf; the pioneer of African Maritime Academy, the organisation has gone aground
It is time to bring this umbrella body to determine the standard of training for seafarers in Nigeria, since we are in the regime of change, we expect the Minister of Transport and the DG of NIMASA to look in this direction with the view of re-establishing the Merchant Navy Training Board.
If the Federal Government can set up Merchant Navy Training Board, the maritime sector will not have problem with skills and knowledge transfer and the maritime industry will also not have challenges getting qualified officers for employment.
The Merchant Navy Training Board also provides training courses for rating, especially those who could not afford to be trained in maritime academy or any higher learning. Even MAN Oron as a government institution has lost focus, they are just doing what they like, the regimental aspect has taken more space than the academic aspect, you see over 200 students in one class, there is no control, no facility on ground and yet you see some people deceiving people in the name of maritime institution and more people are going in yet. According to an observer, there is nothing to show for it.
We are suggesting that the Federal Government should set up MNTB to take care of all these institutions and harmonize their activities so that where one institution is weak; it could be strengthened by others through the Board.
We believe that the Minister of Transportation has the power to approve other institutions, Oron and other institutions must see themselves as same under MNTB because, there is a training you get from the Board that one might not get in the class room. NIMASA should pay more attention to examination and issuing of certificates now, because MAN Oron lacks the capacity and ability by law to issue CoC.
In all serious maritime nations, the MNBT helps to provide industry leadership to ensure career promotion; appropriate courses, training and development are in place to deliver skilled seafarers to the Merchant Navy and the wider shipping industry both now and in the future.
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