Antwerp Maritime Academy

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The Antwerp Maritime Academy is participating in the Erasmus + program. The Erasmus + program aims to support actions in the fields of Education, Training, Youth, and Sport for the period 2014-2020. The program gives students and staff opportunities to spend a period abroad to increase their skills and employability.
The Academy participates in international projects where its know-how can be used to develop maritime education and training. In this respect, contacts have been made with the port authorities in Dubai and education authorities in Suriname. However, the most visible involvement so far was in Cambodia. The Academy was a Leading Partner in two projects to establish maritime education and training by setting up a Maritime Navigation Department as a part of the future Cambodia Maritime Academy.
In 2003 the first project was successfully concluded. It examined the use of distance learning and, more particularly, e-learning. The project was sponsored by the European Commission, under its Asia IT&C program. More information on this project can be found here: E-tools for Off-Shore Training of Maritime Personnel.
The Antwerp Maritime Academy is the only college in Belgium to provide training in Nautical Sciences and Marine Engineering.
In the Nautical Sciences department, deck officers are trained. Deck officers are responsible for the navigation of the ship, the voyage itinerary, maritime communication, cargo handling, etc.
This training prepares the student for a career at sea, which can ultimately lead to Captain's level (Master).
In the Marine Engineering department, engineering officers are trained. The marine engineer is responsible for the preventive maintenance and repair of all thermal, electric, pneumatic, and hydraulic installations aboard the ship and safety equipment. This training prepares the student for a career at sea, which can ultimately lead to the Chief Engineer level.
The Antwerp Maritime Academy combines tradition with modern technology. In keeping with tradition, the students wear a uniform. At the beginning of each academic year, a ceremony is organized during which the class of first-year students is named after a distinguished member of the maritime community.
The Academy is housed in a magnificent building, situated north of the Royers Lock within the Port of Antwerp. The building, which dates from the period between the First and Second World Wars, is listed. The architects succeeded in harmoniously combining functionality and aesthetics. Over the years, necessary renovations have been carried out without altering the unique character of the building.
Inside, however, the Academy is fully equipped with state-of-the-art didactic equipment. Training highly qualified personnel for the maritime industry requires a specific teaching format, specialized instructional methods, and specially adapted equipment.
The Antwerp Maritime Academy is proud of its well-equipped laboratories and workshops and its modern simulators for ship navigation (and radar), cargo handling, propulsion, and telecommunications.
The library contains many recent publications as well as videos, DVDs, and CDs. Students have access to computers and the Internet.
Simulators allow students to acquire nautical and technical skills on campus, but training at sea still forms an essential and compulsory part of nautical education.
The joint training session for all first-year students acts as an initiation into life at sea.
Since the academic year 2007-2008, the joint training session has been carried out aboard the Dar Mlodziezy, the Polish three-mast tall sailing ship.
The students learn various aspects of seamanship, and particular attention is paid to safety training. Students are required to apply the watchkeeping schedules used aboard merchant marine vessels.
Performing as a group and learning to respect each other is of the utmost importance, especially aboard a sailing ship.
To guarantee the safety of ship and crew, high demands are made on discipline from both crewmembers and students. Respect for the forces of nature and operating in vessel, crew, and cargo form essential parts of the training.
The training schedule is based on the guidelines set out by the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) in the Cadet Training Record Book.
In the years following, students can take part in onboard training (on a non-compulsory basis) on commercial vessels (merchant marine vessels, dredging ships, etc.). These training sessions are arranged and carried out on an individual basis during the holiday periods.

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