Interview with LJM Maritime Academy  

Dana Malcolm  

Staff Writer  

#TurksandCaicos, March 20, 2023 – The Turks and Caicos could soon have local students trained to act as maritime officers thanks to a partnership between the Turks and Caicos Community College and LJM Maritime Academy (LJMMA) which is putting its graduates on major cruise lines including Carnival and Royal Caribbean. Brandon Wilson, Student Services representative, detailed to Magnetic Media what The Bahamas based LJMMA offers that TCI youngsters will be able to access.  

“We are the number one maritime institute in The Bahamas, we have two programs, a ratings program and a cadet program.’ he explained at the recent career expo organized by the National Maritime Policy Implementation Committee in The Bahamas.  

‘Rating’ is a catch-all term for deckhands that provide support in a multitude of ways to ensure the smooth running of the ship while at sea. LJM offers four-month rating certifications and students graduate as Efficient Deck Hands (EDH).  Also offered, Williams told us, are three-year diploma or ‘cadet’ programs. 

“You would do two years on campus here and then 12 months at sea. Your 12 months could be with any of our major sponsors Carnival Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Disney [or] Campbells shipping,” he explained. 

Potential students will have to  note the strict nature of the profession with an almost regimental structure Williams notes but those three years of studying would grant them either a diploma in nautical science deck/navigation (foundation for future Master Mariners) or a diploma in marine engineering, (foundation for those aspiring to the ranks of Chief Engineer the school says on its website). Wiliams told us that of the schools population it is seeing an influx of determined women ‘females are dominating,’ he said.  

TCICC announced the collaboration with the hidden gem of a school earlier this month.    

Education Minister Rachel Taylor in a press conference at the opening of College Month had said TCICC would now be offering courses in the Blue Economy thanks to LJM including for tour operators, hoteliers, boat captains, shipping companies and more. 

LJM was one of over a dozen maritime organizations featured at last week’s Maritime Career Expo held at the Mall at Marathon in Nassau, Bahamas.