Lüderitz
Sea-going personnel in Lüderitz will no longer have to travel to Walvis Bay to undergo advanced fire-fighting training as the Namibian Maritime and Fisheries Institute (NAMFI) recently unveiled a new fire-fighting simulator at Lüderitz.
During the inauguration of new fire-fighting simulators, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Bernard Esau applauded NAMFI for taking the initiative. The cost is estimated as at N$3 million.
NAMFI is the only maritime training centre in Namibia that is tasked with the responsibility of training all seagoing personnel in maritime and fisheries-related
programmes.
Esau said by law every vessel that goes out to sea should be properly managed by certificated personnel. He added that, NAMFI’s responsibility is so large and very important as it is tasked with providing programmes that are core to the operation of every vessel, and by extension to the industry.
“I hope you can agree with me that maritime emergencies and accidents as a result of fires at sea are very low, if at all. This is a clear indication that the Namibian government through the Directorate of Maritime Affairs have done well by enforcing the full implementation of the standard of training and certification of Watch keepers Convention as amended from time to time,” said the minister.
The fire-fighting simulator has been constructed to enable the NAMFI Lüderitz
campus, to offer advanced fire-fighting courses to the fishing industry. Esau explained that companies in Lüderitz would no longer have to travel to Walvis Bay to conduct advanced fire-fighting training.
He applauded the wider fishing industry for the support they render NAMFI by sending their personnel for training in various courses. The training environment and tools for this course will now be on par with what is offered in Walvis Bay. Training started on May 2.