History

The emergence of maritime training in Macao can be dated back to 1790, a time when the Municipal Council was authorised to validate the qualifications of working ship pilots. In the beginning, the education and training oriented to ship pilot examinations were initiated by the private sector. Not until 1814 was the "Macao Royal Pilot School" started, which launched its first instructional course in 1815. Thereafter, similar schools were started in the years of 1862 and 1906 respectively. The present "Maritime Training School" was established in 1980, and further expanded in 1989 and 1995

Present condition

The School always maintains its objectives of offering a wide range of courses designed to meet the diverse needs of local maritime activities, of enhancing research on nautical science, and of popularizing the basic knowledge in maritime science.

The School has the following facilities:

• seven classrooms equipped with television sets, recorders and projectors, with a combined seating capacity of 180
• an 80-seat hall installed with audio-visual and simultaneous interpretation equipment
• a library that houses a large collection of books and periodicals as well as audio-visual teaching aids
• a simulated navigation room
• teaching aids such as radars, wireless communication equipment, global positioning systems, diving equipment, rescue rafts and lifeboats.

Students at the Maritime Training School are also able to make use of the Maritime Administration's fire-fighting fieldwork zone located in Coloane to gain practical fire-fighting experience. For practical nautical experience, students are able to use the vessels in the fleet of the Maritime Administration.

The Maritime Training School is an autonomous academic institution under the Maritime Administration. According to the School's charter, the aims of the School are to provide maritime knowledge, to offer professional training and to promote scientific knowledge.