The Djibouti Coast Guard has taken a significant step forward in strengthening maritime safety and readiness with the acquisition of a NAUTIS Class A simulator, including an instructor station and naval module. This marks the first VSTEP simulator in Eastern Africa and underlines the Coast Guard’s commitment to advancing training standards in the region.
For the Djibouti Coast Guard, this simulator represents an immediate leap in training capacity. Until now, the region had no access to maritime simulators. With the NAUTIS simulator, officers can train whenever needed and prepare for a wide range of real-world maritime scenarios, from navigation and maneuvering to operational response. The system also creates opportunities to extend training access to external organizations, further amplifying its value.
Speaking about the new capabilities, Saad Ibrahim Ali, Naval Commissioner at the Coast Guard, said: “This simulator gives us the tools to train our people more effectively and on our own terms. It allows us to strengthen safety and operational competence in ways we could not before. We see this as the beginning of a long-term partnership to keep building our training capabilities for the future.”
The agreement was formally signed at VSTEP’s Rotterdam office during a ceremony that symbolized the start of this new collaboration.
Luuk ten Bergen, Business Developer at VSTEP, commented: “We are honored to support the Djibouti Coast Guard with their first simulator. Beyond delivering technology, our role is to enable their teams to train with flexibility and confidence, and to unlock their full potential. This is a milestone not just for Djibouti, but for maritime training across Eastern Africa.”
With this partnership, the Djibouti Coast Guard is setting a new standard for maritime learning in the region, ensuring safer operations today while laying the foundation for long-term capacity building.
