International offshore services company MODEC has donated a workboat to Ghana’s Regional Maritime University (RMU) to enhance hands-on training for maritime students.

The official handover ceremony took place on Tuesday, 15th July at the university’s campus in Accra.

The fully functional vessel, originally brought into Ghana to support the commissioning of the FPSO Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, is no longer active in offshore operations but remains seaworthy and ideally suited for maritime instruction. It was formally handed over by MODEC and its MV25 Chant Fund partners to RMU to serve as a practical training asset.

Speaking to JoyNews, Theophilus Ahwireng, Managing Director of MODEC Production Services Ghana JV Limited, underlined the company’s commitment to bridging the gap between academic learning and industry practice.

“Fundamentally, what this institution does is train people for the maritime industry, closing the huge gap between classroom learning and practical application,” he said.

“You don’t expect a university to be able to fund and procure vessels for training—this is well beyond typical university budgets. It should be the priority of responsible corporate citizens to support making this dream a reality. That’s why today, MODEC is donating this boat to assist the university in delivering practical training.”

Acting Vice Chancellor of RMU, Dr. Jethro Brooks Jr., expressed his delight over the donation, describing it as a critical boost for student learning.

“We’re overjoyed to receive this facility, which will significantly enhance our ability to train students. They will now gain first-hand experience in operating machinery on a real vessel, including managing the two large engines onboard,” he said.

In addition to the vessel, MODEC presented a cash donation of $20,000 earmarked for the boat’s maintenance, ensuring it remains a safe and effective training platform for years to come.

The company also announced complementary investments aimed at strengthening RMU’s technical education infrastructure.

This includes $16,000 to secure global accreditation for the university’s Welder Training Centre and to train two Ghanaian welding instructors to Canadian Welding Bureau and American Welding Society standards.

Furthermore, MODEC has funded the installation of a 2MVA transformer at RMU at a cost of $300,000, aimed at bolstering the institution’s power capacity to support its expanding training facilities.