By the Suriname Aids to Navigation Academy
The first IALA Aids to Navigation level 1 Manager Course started on the 22 May 2017, the same day that the Suriname Aids to Navigation Academy (SAA) was officially launched.
The Maritime Authority Suriname (MAS) is the national authority that is legally responsible for the provision, maintenance and operation of marine Aids to Navigation in Suriname. As the National member of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), the Maritime Authority Suriname established the Suriname Aids to Navigation Academy. MAS is also the Hydrographic Authority of Suriname.
In that regard a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the MAS and the IALA World Wide Academy to provide the Suriname Aids to Navigation Academy with the necessary technical assistance for delivering the Aids to Navigation Course.
The instructors for this training course were:
- Miss Gerardine Delanoye (Programme Manager from IALA World-Wide Academy);
- Miss Bernice Mahabier (Manager Nautical Management at the MAS);
- Mr. Brain Ristie (Level 1 AtoN Manager at the MAS and staff member Nautical Planning and Development);
- Mr. John Naingie (Level 1 AtoN Manager at the MAS and captain of the Buoy- laying vessel “Marwina”;
- Miss Nancy Yang (Cartographer Category “B” at the MAS).
Guest lectures were also delivered by representatives from the Meteorological Center of Suriname, the Suriname Maritime Institute, SeaLite and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO).
Noteworthy is that the Suriname Aids to Navigation Academy is the only training organization for the North & South America, Latin & Caribbean Region that is accredited to deliver aids to naviga- tion training based on the IALA recommendation E-141.
The course consists out of the following modules:
Module 1: International Organizations;
Module 2: Nautical Knowledge and Navigation;
Module 3: AtoN Design and Management;
Module 4: Technical Functions of AtoN;
Module 5: Power Supply.
The course is targeted at those who will fulfill the role of aids to navigation managers in either the competent authorities or their aids to navigation service providers.
The principle theoretical course covered the complete syllabus for Level 1 AtoN Managers set out in IALA Model Course Recommendation E-141/1. The practical segments of the course comprised site visits to the Port and to the Hydrographic Office at MAS. Furthermore, the participants witnessed a live buoy maintenance and deployment operation.
The primary goal of the Suriname Aids to Navigation Academy is to facilitate education and training for personnel with responsibility for aids to navigation in key target regions and to provide assistance to enhance the knowledge and expertise of AtoN personnel in order to achieve a resilient competence in the defined target regions.
The first Aids to Navigation level 1 manager course was attended by participants from Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Guatemala, Guyana, Saint Kitts & Nevis and Suriname. Participants who completed all 5 Modules, three tests of Competency and a final Planning Task successfully were awarded with a Level 1 AtoN Manager International Certificate of Competency
.
The course finished on Friday 16 June 2017.
The next Level 1 AtoN Manager course will take place from 29 October to 23 November 2018.
Contact information:
- SURINAME ATON ACADEMY
Mrs. Bernice Mahabier
Manager Nautical Management
Maritime Authority Suriname
Cornelis Jongbawstreet #. 2
Work: + (597) 476733 ext. 232
Mobile: + (597) 8547759
Email: bmahabier@mas.sr
2. IALA WORLD-WIDE ACADEMY
Miss Gerardine DELANOYE
Programme Manager IALA World-Wide Academy
Tel:+33 (0) 134517001
Email: gerardine.delanoye@iala-aism.org