NAMFI Safety Department

Namibian Maritime and Fisheries Institute (Namfi) Safety Department

Work at sea has never been without danger, and the maritime industry has a long and growing roll of honor of men who have lost there lives in the performance of their work. Fortunately, loss of life in most types of vessels are now, less frequent than it was only a few generations ago, but no technological advances can fully eliminate the forces of the sea and other natural dangers which seafarers have to face. It is also not possible to eliminate the human errors or to make the tools and equipment we use on board vessels completely accident-proof.
Proper use of safety gear may not always prevent accidents, but by making seafarers safety conscious and preparing them to face hazardous situations on board vessels, and to deal with it in a proper way when it occurs, reduce the seriousness whenever it occurs…and this is where the Safety department has the responsibility to develop, train and offer maritime safety courses up to global standards that has been set forth by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and supervised by the Namibian Directorate of Maritime Affairs (DMA). To ensure, safety of a life at sea is a Priority, the safety department offers the following:
Marine Fire fighting
A fire can be your friend or your enemy. Out at sea when disaster strikes in the form of a Fire on board your vessel it is your responsibility, as a seafarer to deal with it. At NAMFI we simulate real fires and the proper use of fire fighting equipment. Students get exposed to heat and smoke, just like in a real situation.
Survival at sea
Your ship is your safest haven, but when your ship is no longer safe and the order has been given to abandon your vessel…your knowledge, skills and training will count. This is where the safety department arms you with the basic principals of surviving out at sea.
The interesting part of the course is students get to familiarise themselves with a situation which they will find themselves in the event of staying afloat and alive. Students get the opportunity to enter the water from a height, don immersion suits, inflate liferafts and most important to familiarise themselves with the safety equipment available in a survival situation.
First aid at sea
When a medical emergency happen out at sea, it is the responsibility of the Captain to take the necessary steps to provide Medical Care to the injured until they reach the nearest port. The crew is also armed with the basic elementary first aid course which form part of the Mandatory Basic Safety and Familiarization course for all seafarers.
The Department has two areas of operation. The principal area of operation is the Walvis Bay campus and the secondary area of operation is the Luderitz satelite campus.

Training
The following courses are offered in the Safety Department

Basic safety and familiarization
Advanced Safety Courses
Refresher Courses
Tailor-made Courses

Basic safety and familiarization (consisting of the following modules):

Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (STCW 95 )
Personal Survival techniques(STCW 95 )
Elementary First Aid(STCW 95 )
Fire fighting and Fire Prevention(STCW 95 )
Advance Safety Courses (consisting of the following modules):
Proficiency in Survival Craft Course
Advance First Aid (First Aid at Sea)
Advanced Training in Fire Fighting
Medical Care Course