Aqaba Maritime Education and Training Center

Since its foundation, Al-Balqa Applied University (BAU) has developed education and training programmes that serve the local and regional community, building specialised programmes and training centres across many fields.

Qualified seafarers remain in short supply, and the maritime labour market, on board ships and ashore, continues to need competent officers, engineers and port professionals, both in Jordan and internationally.

In line with Jordan’s national development plans and the Ministry of Transport’s strategy to establish maritime programmes in public universities, BAU launched the Bachelor of Maritime Transport Technology and the Diploma in Marine Engineering at Aqaba University College in 2013, to prepare officers and engineers for service on board ships, and professionals for port and maritime transport operations, to international standards.

Both programmes are designed to the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the STCW Convention 1978, as amended, and the Jordan Maritime Commission (JMC). The Bachelor’s programme comprises 132 credit hours (99 in maritime subjects) and the Diploma 105 credit hours (92 in marine engineering subjects).

To complete this pathway, BAU established the Aqaba Maritime Education and Training Center (AMETC) on 15 September 2014, the first maritime training centre in Aqaba. It delivers certificate-of-competency studies and STCW training courses for deck officers and engineers in coordination with the Ministry of Higher Education and the Jordan Maritime Commission, which approved the Center in 2014.

The Center’s management system is certified by Bureau Veritas to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 21001:2018 and ISO 24438:2023 for maritime education and training. On 17 February 2020, His Majesty King Abdullah II inaugurated the Center’s permanent headquarters.

Training is delivered in cooperation with the private sector through the Maritime Advisory Coalition, which provides qualified maritime lecturers under a cooperation agreement with the university.

To be a leading maritime education and training centre, accredited nationally and internationally to the standards of the International Maritime Organization and the Jordan Maritime Commission, whose graduates serve the maritime and logistics sectors regionally and internationally.

To provide high-quality maritime education and training in navigation, marine engineering, ports and maritime logistics, in line with university standards and international conventions, producing competent holders of Jordanian certificates of competency who meet the needs of the maritime industry.

• Professionalism: experienced lecturers, high skills and professional conduct.
• Transparency: clarity, honesty and openness in all dealings.
• Accountability: taking responsibility for decisions and actions.
• Integrity: a clear commitment to doing what is right.
• Equal opportunity: the same rights and fair treatment for everyone.
• Teamwork: working together in teams and working groups.

1. To supply the maritime industry with qualified seafarers and maritime professionals.
2. To give graduates of the Bachelor of Maritime Transport Technology and the Diploma in Marine Engineering the training required for their first certificates of competency, Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch (STCW II/1) and Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch (STCW III/1).
3. To prepare serving officers and engineers for higher certificates of competency, including Chief Mate, Master, Second Engineer and Chief Engineer.
4. To deliver the mandatory STCW courses and specialised short courses that seafarers need to continue serving at sea and to revalidate their certificates.
5. To conduct applied studies and research and provide technical consultancy to the maritime transport sector.
6. To conduct marine surveys.
7. To create employment opportunities for the local community.