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The Director General with senior officials of the Administration has held a study tour of regional Maritime Administrations to gain insight and enhance GMA’s understanding and readiness as it embarks on bolstering the tonnage of the Gambia’s ship registry, improve the inland water transport and strengthen the local maritime training program currently taking place at USET. The Administration is active on establishing a vibrant ship registry for the Gambia with a large tonnage to enhance the development of the maritime transport sector in the country. This drive is aligned to the Recovery Focused Green National Development Plan of the Gambia. The country’s maritime potential is yet to be fully taped and it is against this backdrop that the Administration is exploring avenues for bolstering the Gambia’s ship registry with a large tonnage.

GMA is further developing the capacity of Gambian seafarers in collaboration with the University of Engineering, Science and Technology- USET (formerly known as GTTI), through training program on mandatory IMO courses currently being taught at the latter. There has also been an introduction of a certificate program in Marine Engineering as well as Nautical Science. The study tour aims to particularly understudy the system in Liberia where there is a maritime training institute that offers diploma programs in maritime affairs. The DG and team will seek to gain an understanding of the curriculum requirements to boost the quality of the content delivered under the certificate program at USET.The GMA Act has given the responsibility of curriculum development in maritime studies, to the Administration as part of its functions. The DG’s efforts in this subject is therefore geared towards executing this responsibility. 

The trip to NIMASA is relevant due to the big size of Nigeria maritime industry and the level of experience and development of the sector in Nigeria.  GMA stands to learn from NIMASA in development of Gambia’s ship registry and more so, in the revitalization of river transport in the Gambia, as Nigeria’s maritime industry accounts for more than 70% of maritime activities in West Africa along with a well-developed inland waterways transport network.Sierra Leone on the other hand operates a large ship registry in the sub region. These countries are therefore suitable learning points for GMA to help the Administration better prepare for the expansion of the Gambia’s ship registry.