The Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps (BMCC) – where adventures await

The BMCC is a programme instituted under The Bahamas Maritime Authority to introduce and prepare high school students from grades 10 through 12 for career opportunities in the maritime industry and to build future national capacity. The programme is conducted in conjunction with the Ministry of National Security, via the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), and the Ministry of Education.

Classes are conducted twice weekly during regular school semesters, in New Providence, Abaco, Grand Bahama, Inagua and Eleuthera.

The curriculum includes:

• basic shipboard operation
• seamanship
• fire fighting
• navigation
• rules of the road
• basic engineering

Along with practical exposure to life at sea, students are given the opportunity to achieve international STCW basic safety certification by undertaking the STCW course conducted at the RBDF base by the BMA approved Bahamas Maritime Training Institute.

As shipboard exposure is a core part of the programme, the BMCC recognised and appreciated the support and assistance of the  Bahamas Shipowners Association and individual shipowners.