On Wednesday, July 22nd 2020, the Regional Maritime University (RMU) witnessed a project presentation on the topic” Construction of a Fibre Reinforce Plastic (FRP) Boat for the Snake Class of Ships for the Ghana Navy”.
The three Naval Officers, who designed and built the sea craft, are Lieutenant Christopher Nii Affah, Lieutenant Eli Kofi Djamesi (center) and Lieutenant Kofi Tabi Ankobiah.
The Vice Chancellor of RMU, Professor Elvis Nyarko, informed, the gathering that, the project forms part of the University’s vision to train and equip students to take up jobs as seafarers as well build small craft and ships for the West and Central African Sub region and beyond. At the beginning the 2019/2020 Academic year, the Ghana Navy, through Beacon Maritime Safety,
The Vice Chancellor of RMU, Professor Elvis Nyarko, speaking at the gathering.
Security and Logistics Consulting Services, led by Rear Admiral E. A. Bonsu (Rtd.) approached RMU to design programmes suitable for the officers of the Ghana Navy in the areas of Marine Engineering, Electrical/ Electronic Engineering and Naval Architecture. One objective of the training was to prepare the officers to be able to build sea crafts.
Based on the request presented by the Ghana Navy, the Departments of Marine Engineering and Electrical/Electronic Engineering of RMU, with facilitation of the former Provost, Mr. Augustus Addy-Lamptey, designed programmes in the above stated areas for the training. In all, thirteen (13) Naval Officers were enrolled onto the programmes leading to the award of Post-Graduate Certificates. Three (3) of the students who specialized in Naval Architecture Applications, had their practical work done in collaboration with TEAMWORK BOAT, a local Ghanaian boat building company. The rest of the Ten (10) Officers who were enrolled into the Marine Engineering and Electrical and Electronics Applications also successfully completed their training.
The three Naval Officers, who designed and built the sea craft, are Lieutenant Christopher Nii Affah, Lieutenant Eli Kofi Djamesi and Lieutenant Kofi Tabi Ankobiah. It became evident after the presentation by the students, that FRP Boats, used by the current snake class of Boats can be produced locally at cheaper costs.
The Vice Chancellor also applauded the facilitators of the training and assured that, RMU is capable of training students from Ghana and other Member States to be able to design and build sea crafts for the benefit of their countries. He called for collaboration between the Ghana Navy, the Ghana Maritime Authority and other stakeholders in the maritime industry to establish regulations to replace wooden boats within Ghanaian waters with FRP boats.
Completed project of the three Naval Officers, the Fibre Reinforce Plastic (FRP) Boat.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Seth Amoama, in his remarks, commended RMU for making available its facilities for the successful training of the Officers. Moving forward, he expressed the hope that the Navy in collaboration with RMU and other private entities would actualize the model boat into a real one. He congratulated the Officers, and was optimistic of the turnout with the second batch of Officers yet to be enrolled for programmes available at RMU.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Seth Amoama addressing the ceremony.
Present at the ceremony were personnel from the Ghana Navy, TEAMWORK BOAT, Beacon Maritime Safety, Security and Logistics Consulting Services, Management of RMU, and Friends of the media.
The Vice Chancellor of RMU, Chief of Naval Staff and other Naval Officer present at the gathering.
The Vice Chancellor of RMU and some staff from TEAMWORK BOAT.
The Vice Chancellor of RMU, Chief of Naval Staff, some Naval Officers and RMU staff present at the ceremony.
Information Source: Marketing Unit
Information Date: 27th July, 2020