MOWCA Wins $1.3m Maritime Training Deal from Indonesia to Strengthen STCW Standards

The Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) has secured a $1.3 million maritime scholarship package from the Government of Indonesia, a landmark achievement that reinforces MOWCA’s policy commitment to regional integration, maritime safety, and international cooperation.

MOWCA Secretary-General, Dr. Paul Adalikwu, confirmed the development after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indonesian authorities, noting that the initiative is not just about training individuals but also about aligning MOWCA member states with global maritime governance standards.

At the core of the programme are two International Maritime Organisation (IMO) model courses — Training of Trainers (6.09) and Assessment, Examination, and Certification of Seafarers (3.12) — both critical for capacity development in maritime education and regulation. According to Dr. Adalikwu, the scholarships will directly enhance the ability of member states to implement the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention, the internationally binding framework that ensures seafarers’ competence and safety worldwide.

“This scholarship is more than an academic opportunity. It is a policy tool for ensuring that certificates of competence issued within the MOWCA region carry international credibility and recognition,” Adalikwu stated.

Strategic Capacity Building for Regional Governance

The initiative will train 96 participants in four batches, distributed among MOWCA’s 25 member states. Training schedules have been set for October and November 2025, with full sponsorship covering air transport, accommodation, tuition, and per diems.

Dr. Adalikwu emphasized that by building a pool of certified trainers, assessors, and administrators, MOWCA is strengthening the institutional frameworks that underpin seafarer training and certification across the region. This policy-driven approach, he said, ensures that maritime administrations in Africa are better positioned to meet compliance benchmarks set by the IMO and other global maritime bodies.

Institutional Beneficiaries

Beyond individual seafarers, the scholarships extend to MOWCA’s strategic academic institutions, including the Regional Maritime University (RMU), Ghana, the Regional Academy of Science & Technology of the Seas (ARSTM), Côte d’Ivoire, and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron. These institutions serve as the intellectual backbone of maritime training in the region, and the Indonesian partnership is expected to enhance their instructional methodologies and curricula.

Policy Relevance for Member States

MOWCA has communicated eligibility guidelines to ministers of transport across its member states, mandating that nominations be submitted by September 15, 2025. Importantly, applicants must undergo drug-free certification tests, reflecting the organisation’s insistence on professional integrity and compliance.

The initiative also demonstrates how South-South cooperation can drive regional policy goals. By attracting capacity development support from Indonesia, a nation with a strong maritime tradition, MOWCA is reinforcing its long-term policy agenda:

• Enhancing seafarer mobility within global labour markets.
• Standardizing certification systems to prevent regional disparities.
• Strengthening institutional credibility in maritime governance.

A Milestone in Regional Integration

Observers note that this development marks a major milestone in MOWCA’s pursuit of harmonized maritime policies for West and Central Africa. The organisation has consistently advocated for a stronger role of Africa in global shipping and maritime trade.

“The attraction of this human capacity grant from Indonesia signals international trust in MOWCA’s policy direction. It is a step towards ensuring that our region is not just a consumer of maritime services, but also a contributor of globally recognized maritime professionals,” Adalikwu concluded.

This policy-driven initiative adds momentum to MOWCA’s long-standing vision of building a maritime workforce that is globally competitive, regionally integrated, and policy-aligned with international standards.