The Technical University of Mombasa prides as the first institution to train seafarers in Kenya and therefore has a rich history in Maritime Education and Training (MET). At its inception as Mombasa Institute of Muslim Education (MIOME) in 1940s, it offered training in technical programmes including seamanship and navigation. This is evident through the existence of maritime infrastructure which includes boatswain office and the TUM Nautical block which its façade is designed as the frontage of a ship’s bridge.
The University has revitalised Maritime Education and Training (MET) and has developed mechanisms for sustenance of its history of seafarers training; from offering craft courses to currently undergraduate courses. TUM now produces qualified marine cadets who are taken through modernised training which suit the global maritime industry. The all-round training encompasses maritime safety, maintenance and operations of marine vessels.
Just like in the ships and ports, TUM MET Section is taken through random and periodic inspections to ensure and enhance good operational practices, quality training and safety in the marine workshops as well as high standards of discipline amongst the cadets in preparation for their professional lives.
In pursuit to ascertain the progress of TUM - Maritime Education and Training (MET), on 10th March 2022, The VC - Prof. Laila Abubakar led the inspection team amongst was Captain Suleiman Bakari and Second Officer (2/O) Talib Mohammed – The MET Coordinator, to Inspect the Guard of Honour mounted by the Regiments of TUM Marine Cadets who are trained under Sergeant Steven Juba.
The team got a chance to scrutinize the Marine Engine Simulator (the Engine Room Simulator- ERS 5000) and its operations where it was briefed on the status of training on the engine Simulator in integration with the cloud simulator by 3rd Engineering Officer Khalid Fauz. The team was then escorted to the Seamanship workshop where it was taken through the practical training for seafarers including rope work, care and handling of mooring lines, fire safety, survival at sea and machinery overhaul. The workshops are manned by the Marine Workshop Technicians (Boatswains) Hafidh Kumba, Ms. Brendah Shaffique and Ms. Winnie Nyambu.
This kind of inspection is earmarked to be done once every semester with the monthly one to be conducted by invited guests, Dean or Chairman of the Department.
As a requirement for successful completion, all Marine Engineering and Nautical Science students are put into the regiment of cadets who form a parade or guard of honour which is equally inspected, assessed and graded as it forms part of the course under the unit of Leadership and Physical Training.
In the Maritime industry, safety and best operational practices are continuously monitored through inspections to establish the condition of ships. This is done through Flag State Inspection for the country whose flag the ship is flying and Port state inspections for the country where the ship is loading and discharging cargo. Other than its flag country and other industry compliance inspections; Key to the inspection is the safety survey and survey of navigation equipment. This is undertaken to make sure that all physical and electronic navigation charts are up to date. When new navigation charts are brought on-board the ship, the previous ones are cancelled and stored for disposal, at times handed over to the Inspector on request.
Captain Suleiman, a Safety Inspector and Marine Surveyor inspecting ships, through Trans Africa Maritime Consultancy Group donated to the University navigation charts as they form a powerful tool in Navigation training in MET.
The University is finalising a collaboration agreement for guided sea training with Admiral G.I. Nevelskoy Maritime State University for sea training on-board their training vessel.
In addition to onsite simulators, the University boasts of Cloud Simulators, where it became the first Maritime Training Institution in Africa to integrate Cloud Simulation Systems in its Training.
