A Training of Trainers (TOTs) course based on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Model Course that took place in Indonesia was an opportunity to build relationships between Africa and the Asian nation.
by Blue Africa News
The Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) has strengthened its maritime capacity development drive through a partnership with the government of Indonesia, resulting in successful training of instructors and assessors from member states.
Under the agreement, Indonesia fully sponsored a Training of Trainers (TOTs) course based on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Model Course 6.09, and a training for assessment, examination and certification of seafarers (TOE) based on IMO Model Course 3.12, hinged on strengthening human capital development within the African maritime sector.
The Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran (STIP) and the Balai Besar Pendidikan Penyegaran dan Peningkatan Ilmu Pelayaran (BP3IP) institutions in Jakarta conducted the trainings held in two batches, each lasting two weeks, with the government of Indonesia covering all costs, including air transport, accommodation, tuition and per diems.
During a recent visit to Jakarta (11-19, Oct), Dr. Paul Adalikwu, MOWCA Secretary General held high-level meetings with senior Indonesian officials, including the minister of transportation represented by the secretary of the directorate general of sea transportation and the director of human resources development.
He also toured the training facilities at STIP and BP3IP, interacting with course participants and expressed appreciation to the Indonesian government for the generosity and hospitality.
The SG lauded the chairperson of MOWCA Ingrid Ebouka-Babackas who doubles up as the minister of transport and merchant marine of the Republic of Congo, commending Indonesia’s leadership in maritime education, further calling for the sustenance of the partnership beyond the current training program.
While in Indonesia, the SG introduced MOWCA’s ongoing transformation into the African Maritime Organisation (AMO), a continental body modeled after the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) expected to serve as Africa’s collective maritime voice at IMO.
Noting that both regions stand to benefit from closer cooperation under the South-South Cooperation framework, Dr. Adalikwu emphasised the similarities between Indonesia’s vast archipelagic geography and the maritime challenges faced by many African coastal states.
“This partnership provides another milestone opportunity to boost south-south cooperation between Africa, especially MOWCA member states and Indonesia,” Dr. Adalikwu said.
“It is a strategic partnership we must continue to build upon,” he added.
Decarbonisation, shipbuilding, ferry safety, and cadet placement also provided fodder for discussion during his visit, with Indonesian officials sharing insights into its national strategy, highlighting the country’s progress toward biofuel and liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered engines, the adoption of electric port equipment, and the integration of decarbonization into its “Golden Indonesia 2045” agenda.
On shipbuilding and vessel maintenance, the host delegation confirmed that Indonesia has several shipyards capable of constructing supply vessels, ferries, and bulk carriers, while encouraging future cooperation through its ministry of industry.
Adalikwu also shared MOWCA’s regional efforts to address ferry accidents which he said continue to claim lives and property in several member states, inviting Indonesia to participate in the Regional Workshop on Ferry Safety scheduled to be held in the Democratic Republic of Congo in April 2026. Initial editions were held in Gabon (2024) and Nigeria (2025), respectively.
The Secretary General commended trainees for their conduct and urged them to apply the knowledge gained to improve maritime training in their home institutions. Participants from 16 member States praised MOWCA for securing the grant and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to benefit from Indonesia’s world-class maritime training environment.
He reaffirmed MOWCA’s support for Indonesia’s candidature for Category “C” of the IMO Council during the forthcoming Assembly in London in November 2025, describing the South East Asian nation as a strong maritime ally and a model for developing countries.
Indonesia in return expressed appreciation for the visit and pledged to sustain the partnership through continued collaboration in cadet placement, lecturer exchanges, ferry safety, shipbuilding, and green shipping initiatives.
The SG’s visit ended with a graduation ceremony for the first batch of trainees, the presentation of certificates, and the signing of the Grant Agreement and Letter of Support from MOWCA endorsing STIP’s bid to become a recognised branch of the World Maritime University (WMU).
Participants included representatives from Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and regional maritime institutions such as the Regional Maritime University (Ghana), ARSTM (Côte d’Ivoire), Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), and Limbe Nautical Arts and Fisheries Institute (Cameroon).
Oliver Ochieng, Blue Africa News