Solution ISPS and Latitude Maritime: Strengthening Maritime Training in Cameroon — Functional Analysis and 2024 Recommendations
Functional analysis of maritime training in Cameroon by Solution ISPS and Latitude Maritime, with 2024 strategic recommendations. Summary: A formal assessment by Solution ISPS and Latitude Maritime examines the state and effectiveness of maritime training in Cameroon. It delivers targeted strategic recommendations to guide policy, capacity building, and industry alignment in 2024.
In October 2024, the Ministry of Transport of Cameroon launched a strategic project to modernize its national maritime and port training system. The official mandate was entrusted to Solution ISPS, a specialist in maritime security and compliance with the ISPS Code. As a subcontractor, Latitude Maritime – formerly François Laplante Consultant – contributed its recognized expertise, supported by an international team of experts in maritime security, port operations, and instructional design.
The objective was clear: analyze the maritime training framework, identify priority occupations and competencies, assess compliance with international standards (IMO/STCW, ISPS Code, ISM Code, MLC 2006), and propose a roadmap to strengthen the performance, safety, and effectiveness of the programs.
The mission involved a comprehensive field assessment: visits to ports, shipyards, and training centers, interviews with key stakeholders, and an audit of training content. The analysis highlighted strong commitment from local stakeholders but also significant gaps with IMO/STCW standards, particularly in practical training: firefighting, ISPS security, mooring operations, basic electricity, and confined space entry operations.
The recommendations are structured in three phases:
Short term: creation of a training–safety–security governance committee, immediate update of critical modules, standardization of safety checklists.
Medium term: adoption of a national competency framework, modernization of curricula, acquisition of simulators and practical equipment, certification of national instructors.
Long term: establishment of an accredited national training center, development of an integrated certification system, and international partnerships for internships and co-certifications.
This strategic partnership demonstrates the complementarity between Solution ISPS, ensuring institutional and regulatory steering, and Latitude Maritime, an expert in an andragogical approach and maritime training tailored to operational realities. Together, they provide Cameroon with a clear and actionable vision to build a maritime sector that is safer, more competent, and aligned with international best practices.