At The University of Trinidad and Tobago we offer a Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science/Maritime Operations programme, designed to build the commercial maritime acumen of its graduates. This programme was the first Maritime Bachelor's degree offered within Trinidad and Tobago and is the only accredited undergraduate maritime business degree offered in the region to date. The programme answers to the recommendations of several studies on the requirements for the development of the maritime sector.  The Vision 2030 National Development Strategy 2016-2030 has identified that quality infrastructure and transportation are key facilitators for improving productivity. Maritime Services has been identified as one of seven key national economic areas being targeted for expansion and achieving global competitiveness. Vision 2030 further states that continued efforts will be placed on improving the quality of port services, increasing private investment in the maritime sector, and integrating port operations.  It is expected that suitably qualified graduates working within the maritime sector will fuel and enhance the growth of this industry through their entrepreneurship.

The programme is targeted at persons wishing to undertake a career in the shore-based maritime industry. Maritime education is a relatively new concept in the tertiary education landscape of the region. While various forms and levels of training have existed in little pockets within the region, prior to this degree there was no undergraduate programme tailored to building the knowledge and skills for shore-based maritime administration.  
Fundamental aims of this programme are to:

• develop "industry-ready" graduates with demonstrated competencies in addressing issues and problems likely to arise in the maritime field
• fulfil the existing demand for trained professionals in the local maritime industry
• build the human resource capacity within the industry to fuel, through its graduates, the long term growth of this sector.

On successful completion of this programme, students will have obtained the knowledge, understanding, skills and values deemed critical to shore-based personnel in the maritime industry. Graduate will be able to:

• apply contemporary relevant international maritime standards in the maritime industry
• demonstrate safety management in the Maritime Industry
• apply risk management techniques within the specialized context of maritime operations
• apply knowledge of international trade, international legal compliance, and principles of marine environmental protection with specific reference to the Caribbean region
• evaluate the factors which influence maritime economics and how these apply to different trades and the various sectors of the maritime industry
• develop a general understanding of one or more of the principles of Navigation, Meteorology, Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture, Maritime Transport and Logistics
• communicate effectively using standard maritime terms
• rationalise ethical decisions in the maritime domain in the practice of business and entrepreneurship.

For more detailed information please contact lorraine.perry@utt.edu.tt

Full Time only; Four (4) years

1. UTT Chaguaramas Campus

• Passes in two (2) CAPE subjects (Units 2) or GCE A’ Level subjects in addition to General Paper OR Communication Studies and Caribbean Studies; OR
• Diploma in Maritime Operations - Navigation or Diploma in Maritime Operations - Engineering OR STCW 95 Certificate of Competency at Operational or Management Level; OR
• National Engineering Technician Diploma

Mature Student Entry:

An applicant who does not satisfy all the stipulated minimum academic or technical qualifications for admission to the programme may be accepted as a Mature Student. He/she would need to possess the critical elements of the stipulated qualification and would be assessed as possessing a combination of qualifications and educational or experiential maturity to enable him/her to successfully participate in the programme. 

Mature students not in possession of the prerequisite qualifications may be accepted into the programme at the discretion of the Programme Leader of the Maritime Programmes.

Admission with Advanced Standing

Graduates of the Diploma in Maritime Operations Navigation or Engineering options may be accepted into the programme and be eligible for exemptions for courses that have been completed in those programmes that are similar to the learning outcomes in this BSc. programme.

In addition to core requirements featuring the various aspects of maritime law and economics, the programme also focuses on safety management. Below is a listing of courses that are delivered under this programme:

For additional information please contact vivian.r-parasram@utt.edu.tt or lorraine.perry@utt.edu.tt

To apply for this BSc programme at The University of Trinidad and Tobago, you have to submit an application via the online application portal (links provided below)

Online Application - Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago (ONLY)

Application Forms - Regional and International Applicants

For additional information please contact vivian.r-parasram@utt.edu.tt or lorraine.perry@utt.edu.tt

Potential Careers

• Port Administrator
• Compliance Officer
• Marine Insurer
• Ship Surveyor
• Terminal Operator
• Cargo Planner
• Maritime Entrepreneur
• Maritime Business Services Provider
• Maritime Research
• Ship Financing
• Marine Human Resource Manager
• Vessel Traffic Management
• Manning Agencies

Employment Areas

• Port Operations
• Maritime Risk and Safety Management
• Insurance/Protection & Indemnity
• Ship Surveying/Ship Technical Superintendency
• Port Planning
• Shipping Brokers/Ship Brokers
• Ship repair, Safety Management; Shore-based and Offshore Logistics
• Freight Forwarding and Associated Maritime Logistics
• Shore-based and Offshore Logistics; Bunkering Operations
• Data collection and Management
• Vessel Financing and Banking Institutions
• Ship Management/Fleet Personnel Management
• Traffic Separation Schemes
• Manning and Crewing

Name: Tajae Harripersad
Job: Deputy Office and Business development Manager at Fast Freight Forwarders Limited.
Heading into The University of Trinidad and Tobago, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I was entering an industry that is not your typical field of study. However, within the very first few months, UTT opened my eyes to so much more than just a degree. UTT laid out the foundation that I needed to get to the pace that I needed to be. I often boost about the diversity of my degree, from learning how to chart navigational courses, studying the law of the sea to planning an entire project from start to end, our degree ensured no stone was left unturned. Our lecturers go above and beyond to ensure that not only our academic goals are met but activities outside of the classroom were just as important.

UTT had a major role in charting my future. They allowed me to enhance the skills I already possess, these very skills I that utilize every day. I currently sit at a managerial level in the industry and I can proudly say UTT has shaped me into the individual that I am today. Would I recommend the Maritime Programme? My answer is simple, without hesitation! UTT Maritime Campus has my full support as I believe each individual within the university has all the right tools to carve the future leaders of the maritime industry.

 Name: Tevin Parris
Job: Technical Officer, MTCC Caribbean
When deciding our future, we often look at programme content but neglect important factors such as whether the programme is practical and comprehensive; relevant and industry involved; and abreast of contemporary developments. These factors characterize the content of any programme and make or break your ability to function as part of the industry upon completion.

This programme has prepared me for operating across a spectrum of roles, from inspecting vessels as an HSE compliance officer locally, to travelling and interacting globally with heads of maritime administrations and officials of UN bodies like the International Maritime Organization on a regular basis. The true value of this programme lies in its ability to facilitate practical industry experience before you even graduate, giving you that competitive edge which is so necessary when first starting out.

Name: Kassandra Tyla George-Allen (SIMarEST, MATM)
Job: Contract Delivery Manager at Peterson Integrated Logistics Caribbean.
Spending four (4) years at The University of Trinidad and Tobago Chaguaramas campus has chartered my Maritime knowledge to unforeseen waters through a broad and diverse curriculum and the support of the faculty. I am Kassandra Tyla George-Allen and I am a graduate of the Bachelor of Science (BSc.) in Nautical Science and Maritime Operations class of 2018.

The Maritime/ Marine Industry is so vast that the shore-based career paths are endless, and this programme aimed at ensuring the students were equipped to understand these opportunities and traverse their own paths. Our courses ranged from Maritime Economics, Coastal Zone Management and a generous measure of Maritime Law courses. As shore-based students we were even privy to gaining a more practical understanding of Vessel Operations and Port Operations through courses such as Surveying, Navigation, and Planning and Management of Ports and Terminals. These courses were very crucial to the general understanding of Trinidad and Tobago’s position within the global industry and identify the opportunities for improvement and the courses were quite stimulating. However, it was an excellent and fruitful starting point in my career which opened many opportunities for me. I was provided the opportunity to complete two internships during my studies at globally prestigious Oil and Gas companies; bpTT and Peterson Integrated Logistics Caribbean. At the end of my studies at UTT, I was also afforded a scholarship from the University of Antwerp, Belgium to complete my Masters in Maritime and Air Transport Management.

Though, there were many individual challenges to overcome, completing the Bachelor of Science (BSc.) in Nautical Science and Maritime Operations was a choice that I will never regret.