Navigation Academy in Suriname Holds Initial IALA Manager Course for Aids to Navigation, Located in Paramaribo, Suriname
Suriname Aids to Navigation Academy Opens Doors for Maritime Safety Training
The Suriname Aids to Navigation Academy, a new training institution established by the Maritime Authority Suriname (MAS), has opened its doors to mariners, technicians, and navigation professionals seeking education and training in the installation, maintenance, and operation of navigational aids.
Located in Suriname, the Academy serves as a center for capacity building and professional development in maritime navigation safety, with potential influence or service extension to neighboring countries in the Caribbean and northern South America.
The Academy, which is the only training organization for the North & South America, Latin & Caribbean Region accredited to deliver aids to navigation training based on the IALA recommendation E-141, was officially launched on the same day as the first course. This inaugural course, the first Aids to Navigation level 1 manager course, started on May 22, 2017, and concluded on June 16, 2017.
The course covered the complete syllabus for Level 1 AtoN Managers as set out in IALA Model Course Recommendation E-141/1. The course consisted of modules on International Organizations, Nautical Knowledge and Navigation, AtoN Design and Management, Technical Functions of AtoN, and Power Supply.
The instructors for the course included Gerardine Delanoye, Bernice Mahabier, Brain Ristie, John Naingie, and Nancy Yang. Guest lectures were delivered by representatives from the Meteorological Center of Suriname, the Suriname Maritime Institute, SeaLite, and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO).
Practical segments of the course included site visits to the Port and to the Hydrographic Office at MAS, as well as a live buoy maintenance and deployment operation. Participants who completed all 5 Modules, three tests of Competency, and a final Planning Task were awarded with a Level 1 AtoN Manager International Certificate of Competency.
The first Aids to Navigation level 1 manager course was attended by participants from Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Guatemala, Guyana, Saint Kitts & Nevis, and Suriname.
For more information about the Suriname Aids to Navigation Academy, please contact Manager, Mrs. Bernice Mahabier, at bmah*[email protected]. The IALA World-Wide Academy, which provided the Suriname Aids to Navigation Academy with technical assistance through a Memorandum of Understanding, can be contacted at Programme Manager, Miss Gerardine DELANOYE, at gerardine.delano*[email protected].
In a world where maritime safety is paramount, the Suriname Aids to Navigation Academy plays a crucial role in ensuring safe shipping routes, accident prevention, and compliance with regional and international maritime standards. By providing specialized training and education in aids to navigation—systems, equipment, and methods that help maritime vessels navigate safely—the Academy enhances maritime safety, supports economic activity through safe shipping, and builds professional regional capacity.
- The Suriname Aids to Navigation Academy, with its focus on maritime safety, technology, and education-and-self-development, could potentially collaborate with finance-related organizations to secure funding for expanding its services beyond Suriname, contributing to improved safety standards in the Caribbean and northern South America.
- Besides delivering aids to navigation training, the Suriname Aids to Navigation Academy, as a center for professional development, could partner with industries such as education-and-self-development and technology to incorporate modern learning techniques and alternative navigational solutions in its curriculum, enhancing the quality of training and making it relevant for the future.
