At Brabo, people are given the chance to work as boatmen even without prior training, and they can become harbour pilots. To this end, Brabo Group works with the Antwerp Maritime Academy.
What training courses are given at the Antwerp Maritime Academy?
Patrick Blondé (Director): “We train seagoing officers via the Master’s Degree in Nautical Sciences, and officcers and chief engineers via the Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Engineering.”
“Brabo makes use of the Academy’s services to officer its trainee boatmen an Able Seaman course under STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers).”
What do they learn from this course?
“The course package for trainee boatmen was custom-designed for Brabo. It’s not about an academic education, but simply about broadening the basic knowledge. Students learn about every aspect of the port. Boatmen are in contact with many different port employees and official services. The course gives them a better understanding and improves professional relationships.”
What does the course for harbour pilots consist of?
“Apprentice harbour pilots at the Academy take the theory-only course STCW A-II/2 (Masters and Chief Mates on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more). This includes the same nautical subjects covered in the Master’s Degree in Nautical Sciences. Since the training for harbour pilots needs to be as practical as possible, like the one for boatmen, they are not offered the academic component either.”
At Brabo, boatmen can develop to harbour pilots.What do you think of this?
“That’s the ideal way: learning by doing. Brabo has used this method for boatmen for a long time, and adds a new dimension so that ambitious young people can become harbour pilots. In Japan, sushi chefs have to gain a huge amount of practical experience while ‘stealing with their eyes’. Only after many years they can call themselves a sushi chef. But by then they know their trade through and through. A career at Brabo follows a similar path.”
