NPA Moves to Localize Critical Marine Skills, Eyes Strategic Training Pact with Maritime Institute

Monrovia, Liberia: The National Port Authority (NPA) has intensified efforts to strengthen Liberia’s maritime workforce, opening high-level discussions with the Liberia Maritime Training Institute (LMTI) aimed at closing skills gaps and localizing key marine services.

The engagement, held on February 10, 2026, is part of the NPA’s RESET Agenda, which places workforce transformation at the center of port modernization and institutional reform.

An NPA delegation met with Tal Hendler, General Manager of LMTI, who outlined the Institute’s training mandate, specialized programs, and operational facilities. Central to the discussions was LMTI’s Manning Department, responsible for preparing and deploying cadets and certified marine officers.

LMTI emphasized the growing international demand for trained maritime professionals, pointing to opportunities across global shipping lines, terminal operators, and Liberia’s Shipping Registry. The Institute also showcased its safety-focused training infrastructure, including firefighting and emergency response programs.

NPA Managing Director Sekou A. M. Dukuly described workforce localization as an urgent national priority.

He stressed the need for Liberians to assume critical marine functions, particularly pilotage and marine services at the Freeport of Monrovia, noting that sustainable port operations depend heavily on domestic technical capacity.

The Managing Director was accompanied by James R. Bernard, Deputy Managing Director for Administration; Vashti Hanna Sirleaf, Executive Director for Human Resources; Abigail Tomah Gbassage, Administrative Assistant to the Managing Director; and George Des. Kennedy, Senior Director for Training.

The talks underscore the NPA’s broader push to correct entrenched skills deficiencies and build a competitive Liberian maritime workforce capable of supporting long-term port sector reforms.