Odita Sunday 
MOWCA Secures Indonesian Government Sponsored Training Opportunities for Maritime Instructors and others.
SG MOWCA, Dr Paul Adalikwu with the Minister of Transport, Republic of Indonesia Mr. Dudy Purwagandhi at the International Maritime Organisation Headquarters in London
The Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) has secured 48 Indonesian government-sponsored training opportunities for maritime education instructors, maritime administration officers and seafarers from its member states under three tier capacity-building programmes scheduled for November 2026.
The programmes were announced in a circular letter dated September 30, 2026, signed by MOWCA Secretary-General, Dr. Paul Adalikwu, and addressed to honourable ministers in charge of maritime transport in member states.
In the circular, issued from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Adalikwu said the Government of Indonesia is offering the scholarships within the framework of MOWCA’s cooperation with its international partners.
The programmes will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, and are designed to strengthen maritime education, improve professional competence and enhance the training, assessment and certification of seafarers across West and Central Africa.
According to the circular, the three programmes are: Training of Trainers on Seafarers’ Mental Health. This programme has 15 slots and is scheduled for November 7 to 15, 2026, including travel days. It is intended for doctors specialising in seafarers’ health and serving in seafarers’ health centres.
Training of Trainers (ToT) based on IMO Model Course 6.09: The programme has 13 slots and will run from November 14 to 29, 2026, including travel days. It focuses on training instructors in the maritime field to strengthen their teaching capabilities and improve the quality of maritime education.
Training for Assessment, Examination and Certification of Seafarers (ToE): Based on IMO Model Course 3.12, this programme has 20 slots and will run from November 7 to 29, 2026, including travel days. It is designed for personnel from maritime administrations and training institutions responsible for seafarer certification, as well as officers involved in onboard assessments. The programme will be combined with an International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code course.
The three programmes provide opportunities for different categories of maritime professionals to acquire specialised knowledge and improve their contribution to maritime safety, training and regulatory compliance.
In the circular, Adalikwu stated that English would be the language of instruction, requiring participants to possess the ability to speak, read, write and understand the language.
He also emphasised the need for participants to hold passports valid for at least six months from their date of arrival in Indonesia.
The circular further outlined strict registration deadlines, with applications for the Seafarers’ Mental Health and IMO Model Course 6.09 programmes required to be completed by October 9, 2026, while registration for the Training for Assessment, Examination and Certification of Seafarers programme was to close on October 17, 2026.
Given the limited time available, Adalikwu urged the ministers to disseminate the information to their respective maritime administrations and agencies to ensure that applications reached the MOWCA Secretariat within the stipulated deadlines.
The Secretary-General also cautioned prospective participants about Indonesia’s strict laws on drug-related offences, advising them to avoid the possession and consumption of drugs and to obtain travel insurance from their respective countries.
The latest initiative builds on Indonesia’s commitment to supporting maritime capacity development among MOWCA member states through technical cooperation and knowledge sharing.
In its separate programme information for the November training, Indonesia identified the Maritime Institute of Indonesia, known as STIP, as the implementing institution, with support from the Human Resources Development Agency for Transportation under the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation. The sponsorship arrangements for the two instructor-training courses include return economy-class air tickets, visas, travel insurance, allowances, accommodation, meals and other logistical support.
The partnership is expected to strengthen professional skills, improve maritime training standards and promote cooperation between Indonesia and West and Central African countries in addressing shared maritime challenges.
Through the initiative, MOWCA continues to pursue capacity-building opportunities aimed at developing a more skilled maritime workforce and supporting the sustainable growth of the region’s blue economy.
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