Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA) last Thursday 17th August, 2023 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Regional Maritime University (RMU) in Ghana in a ceremony held at Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel, Aberdeen in Freetown.

The partnership will enable RMU to support SLMA with expertise to train Sierra Leoneans as seafarers after the domestication of Standard of Training Certification and Watch Keeping (STCW) Convention in Sierra Leone in 2022.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the SLMA Executive Director, Paul S. Massaquoi, underscored the significance of the MoU in steering the transformative juncture for Sierra Leone’s maritime landscape.

He said since SLMA domesticated its STCW Convention and presented it to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for consideration, they hope this will be a perfect opportunity to re-engage with the RMU with a view to solicit technical assistance and cooperation for the full implementation of the STCW Convention.

The SLMA Boss harped on the succession plan for trained and qualified Sierra Leonean STCW graduates to be provided with the opportunity to be enrolled into flag vessels of other Member States as either volunteers or serve on secondment in the university itself.

Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rex Bhonapha, was excited that the SLMA was twinning with the RMU to build the capacity of Sierra Leoneans at a lower cost to Government than it should be.

He further applauded the SLAM and RMU for the good initiative as it is indeed a win-win situation for both Sierra Leone and RMU.

RMU Vice Chancellor, Professor Jethro W. Brooks, reiterated the commitment of RMU to provide services to the SLMA in several major areas, including the provision of all necessary supports, technical and otherwise to SLMA for the establishment of a local training academy that will feed into the RMU upon completion of its diploma programme.

The Vice Chancellor said RMU will ensure all Sierra Leonean seafarers in possession of outdated certificates are renewed without the continuous provision of upgraders training for local trainers, and the processes of providing in country training for new would-be seafarers.