Antwerp Maritime Academy

What Antwerp Maritime Academy does

Antwerp Maritime Academy (AMA, legally Hogere Zeevaartschool / HZS) is a Belgian public maritime higher education institution located at Noordkasteel Oost 6 in Antwerp's Scheldt curve, adjacent to the Port of Antwerp-Bruges — the second-largest port in Europe. It traces its operating history to 1800 (re-established under Belgian rule in 1834), was rebranded to its current name in 2022, and is part of the AUHA association with the University of Antwerp. The institution is the only provider in Belgium of IMO STCW-compliant maritime officer training and is ISO 9001 certified (audited by DNV), NVAO-accredited (positive institutional review in 2025), and operates under Belgium's EU White List status for STCW.

AMA serves approximately 600 students across academic bachelor and master programmes in Nautical Sciences and Marine Engineering, a twelve-month postgraduate Hydrography programme (Category B, jointly delivered with Ghent University under FIG/IHO/ICA S-5B), and modular professional training including STCW Operational/Management Level, Electro-Technical Officer (850 hours), Commercial Yachting <500 GT, Maritime Law, Maritime Cyber Security, and Inland Waterway courses (in collaboration with Brabo Academy). Its Final Assessment service issues Certificates of Competence (€250 per attempt). The technology stack centres on the MISSIM simulator park (navigation, ECDIS, communication, engine room, and cargo simulators), a Practice Lab Corrosion and Insulation built under the Flanders-Netherlands Interreg programme, an Air Quality Monitoring Decision Support System proof-of-concept, and a Living Lab for multidisciplinary applied research.

Revenue is generated through four streams: publicly subsidised academic tuition (subscription/recurring), fee-based modular professional training and STCW courses (professional services, €175-€300 per half/full day for Maritime Law), one-time Final Assessment fees (€250 per attempt), and applied-research grants and consultancy funded via BOF, PWO, Horizon Europe, and Interreg programmes. Distribution is direct-to-consumer for individual students (via the registratie.hzs.be portal) and direct sales for enterprise training via the Training & Consultancy department. The customer base spans future merchant marine officers (primary), Hydrography professionals, Electro-Technical Officers, the inland waterway sector, Belgian shipping companies, dredging majors (DEME, Jan De Nul), the Flemish government, and shore-based maritime employers.

Name

Antwerp Maritime Academy

Legal name

Antwerp Maritime Academy (Hogere Zeevaartschool - HZS)

Website

https://hzs.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Belgian public maritime higher education institution offering STCW-compliant bachelor, master, and postgraduate programmes in Nautical Sciences, Marine Engineering, and Hydrography, plus modular professional training. Serves approximately 600 students and the maritime industry from its campus at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Higher Education

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime Safety, Security & Compliance (STCW/ISM/ISPS) (EDAOANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Engineering & Engine Room Operations (EDAOANAB), Navigation, Seamanship & Offshore Operations (EDAOANAE), Maritime Safety Management Systems & Training (ISM/ISO 45001, Drills, Competency) (TLAHANAF)

Keywords

• Maritime higher education
• STCW certification training
• Nautical science degrees
• Marine engineering programs
• Hydrographic surveying courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Antwerp

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Academic Degree Programmes: Tuition fees from bachelor and master programmes in Nautical Sciences, Marine Engineering, and postgraduate Hydrography Category B. Programmes are publicly funded higher education in Belgium, with tuition structured per academic year.
2. Professional Training & STCW Courses: Modular STCW training programmes for industry and public services, including STCW Operational Level, STCW Management Level, Electro-Technical Officer, Commercial Yachting, and maritime law courses. Billed per module or per half-day/full-day programme.
3. Final Assessment: Assessment services for seafarers seeking Certificate of Competence (COC) under STCW, charged at a registration fee of €250 per attempt.
4. Research & Consultancy Services: Practice-oriented and applied research conducted in cooperation with business partners, funded through BOF academic projects, PWO research funds, European Research Projects (Horizon, Interreg), and internal research resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Antwerp Maritime Academy delivers academic higher-education degree programmes (bachelor and master) in Nautical Sciences and Marine Engineering, a postgraduate Category B Hydrography programme jointly with Ghent University, and STCW-compliant modular professional training (Operational and Management Level, Electro-Technical Officer, Commercial Yachting, Maritime Cyber Security, Maritime Law, Inland Waterway). It also issues Certificate of Competence via Final Assessment and conducts applied maritime research. The offering targets prospective seafarers and maritime professionals, with the Academy functioning as Belgium's sole STCW-listed maritime university college.

Product overview

Antwerp Maritime Academy offers a portfolio of degree programs (Nautical Sciences, Marine Engineering at Bachelor/Master level, plus Hydrography postgraduate), professional training courses (STCW Management Level, Electro-Technical Officer, Commercial Yachting, Maritime Cyber Security, Maritime Law, Inland Waterway Courses, and modular Training Modules), Final Assessment certification services, and applied Research Projects. The institution operates as a maritime center of knowledge with simulators for practical training, serving both students pursuing maritime careers and industry professionals seeking continuing education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nautical Sciences (Bachelor and Master) Three-year academic Bachelor followed by a one-year Master degree in Nautical Sciences preparing students for careers as deck officers, captains, or maritime managers. Covers navigation, cargo operations, maritime law, communications, and safety training, reaching STCW Operational Level at the end of the Bachelor and STCW Management Level at the end of the Master.
• Marine Engineering (Bachelor and Master) Academic Bachelor and Master programme training students to become chief engineers. Covers propulsion systems, engines, electrical systems, water treatment, ballast water management, and engine emissions control, reaching STCW Management Level at the end of the Master.
• Hydrography Category B Postgraduate Programme Twelve-month Category B Hydrographic Surveyor postgraduate programme jointly organised with Ghent University, compliant with FIG/IHO/ICA S-5B Standards of Competence. Covers underwater mapping, depth measurement, and hydrographic modelling for professionals pursuing hydrographic surveying careers.
• STCW Management Level A-II/2 Training Modular training programme aligned with STCW Table A-II/2 covering all competences for masters and chief mates on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more. Recognised by Belgian Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport.
• Electro-Technical Officer STCW A-III/6 Training 850-hour programme aligned with STCW Table A-III/6 for certification of electro-technical officers. Covers electrical systems, electronics, and maintenance on vessels; planning by mutual agreement, price upon request.
• Commercial Yachting <500 GT Training Training programme for crew of pleasure craft used for commercial activities with gross tonnage lower than 500. Offers modules leading to Certificates of Competence including Officer of the Watch and Master (200 nautical miles and unlimited).
• Final Assessment for Certificate of Competence Final assessment service for graduates to obtain Certificate of Competence (COC) through evaluation of practical competencies. Covers STCW chapters II/1 (navigational watch), III/1 (engine room watch), and III/6 (electrotechnical officer). Registration fee of €250 per attempt, payable via the AMA website.
• Maritime Cyber Security Course Course covering identification of cyber security vulnerabilities in the maritime industry, understanding and recognising cyber security threats, and best practices for ensuring a high level of cyber security aboard ships and in port operations.
• Maritime Law Training Two-week professional programme covering maritime law topics including Law of the Sea, Admiralty Law, Belgian Shipping Code, carriage of goods, chartering, limitation of liability, ship finance, insurance, arrest and judicial sale of vessels. Priced at €175 per half-day and €300 per full day; Belgian students studying in Belgium participate free.
• Inland Waterway Courses Training modules for the inland waterway sector developed through collaboration between Antwerp Maritime Academy and Brabo Academy, available to industry, public services, and individual trainees for inland shipping operations on European rivers and canals.
• Modular Training Programmes Individual training modules available for maritime companies, towing and dredging companies, public authorities including Pilotage services, and individual trainees. Also offers tailor-made programmes and equipment rental for companies with certified instructors.
• Applied Maritime Research Projects Applied and practice-oriented research covering ship emissions and sustainable maritime transport, combating corrosion and fouling, maritime health, and maritime cybersecurity. Includes projects such as MADIENER, DISARM, GREENPORT, MISSIM simulator development, and corrosion studies, funded through BOF academic projects, PWO research funds, and European Research Projects (Horizon, Interreg).

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates can reach captain or chief engineer positions by age 30 — equivalent to CEO or COO in classical corporate terms.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ESTACA (École Supérieure des Techniques Aérospatiales et de Conception Aéronautique)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025French engineering school with ~2,500 students exploring how AMA's maritime expertise — simulator training and operational insight — can complement ESTACA's technical ship design curriculum via Erasmus student exchange.
• Shanghai Maritime UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Exchange of research on sustainability, green ports, climate and energy, environmental care, and alternative fuels. Collaboration within the EU-funded Pioneers Project (Portable Innovation Open Network for Efficiency and Emissions Reduction Solutions). AMA and SMU share research interests and exchange expertise.
• KMS (Koninklijk Museum van de Marine / Royal Museums of the Navy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Collaboration between KMS and AMA announced in September 2024, strengthening ties between maritime heritage and education.
• International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU)coreOthers · 1 January 2024AMA joined IAMU in 2024, gaining access to annual conferences and a global network of maritime universities for knowledge sharing and collaboration.
• University of Antwerp (via AUHA - Associatie Universiteit & Hogescholen Antwerpen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMA is part of AUHA, enabling academic collaboration with the University of Antwerp. Supports academisation process and joint doctoral programmes. University releases BOF (Special Research Fund) resources for scientific research supporting the academisation of association colleges.
• MISSIMLabcoreTechnology or IntegrationMISSIM (Maritime Innovation and Simulation) laboratory providing simulator tours and research collaboration, showcasing AMA's simulator park to international visitors.
• International Maritime Lecturers Association (IMLA)coreOthersAMA's Alison Noble serves as Chair of IMLA. The association connects maritime lecturers internationally, facilitating exchange of best practices, peer evaluations, and professional development.
• DNVcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDNV conducts annual ISO 9001 audits of AMA and issues the three-year ISO certificate, with renewal audits every three years and intermediate audits in other years.
• European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEMSA audits AMA on behalf of the IMO to verify Belgium remains on the STCW White List of countries offering compliant maritime training.
• Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport (FOD Mobiliteit)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConducts annual STCW audits of AMA and issues Certificate of Competence (COC) to graduates upon passing Final Assessment, verifying STCW compliance.
• MADIENER ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded project on Marine Diesel Engine Exhaust Reduction. AMA participates in research on alternative carbon-neutral fuel types for inland navigation.
• GREENPORT ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation through smart use of current resources. Collaborative project involving smart port operations and environmental sustainability.
• Brabo AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to deliver inland waterway training courses meeting growing demand from maritime companies and government bodies for external inland waterway training.
• Kic-MPI (Coordinated via Interreg V Programme)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinated Practice Lab Corrosion and Insulation project within the Interreg V Flanders-Netherlands programme, focused on prevention, detection, and repair of corrosion.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Australian Maritime College (AMC, University of Tasmania): Australia's premier maritime training institution, delivering STCW-compliant degree programmes in nautical science and marine engineering plus simulator-based training. Comparable in mission, regulatory compliance orientation, and breadth of programme offerings.
• World Maritime University (WMU): IMO-founded postgraduate maritime university in Malmö, Sweden, offering master's and doctoral programmes in maritime affairs, ocean sustainability, and shipping management. WMU is the most direct global peer to AMA given its international student body, IMO affiliation, and focus on maritime professional education.
• South Shields Marine School (South Tyneside College): One of the UK's oldest maritime training establishments, delivering STCW-compliant officer cadet programmes and continuing professional training. Directly comparable to AMA in terms of historic maritime education heritage and STCW certification focus.
• Shanghai Maritime University (SMU): One of China's largest maritime universities with comprehensive Nautical Sciences and Marine Engineering degree programmes, plus STCW certification. SMU is explicitly a partner of AMA under the EU-funded Pioneers Project on sustainability and alternative fuels, making it both a peer and collaborator.
• Estonian Maritime Academy (EMERA): Tallinn-based maritime academy offering STCW-compliant degree programmes in nautical science and marine engineering, plus simulator training. Comparable in scale and mission as a national maritime officer training institution in the Baltic region.
• Naval Academy of France (École Navale): France's primary naval and maritime officer training institution. While more military-oriented, it shares AMA's French-speaking European context and offers overlapping STCW-aligned programmes for merchant marine officer training.

Others

• MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands): Netherlands-based maritime research institute focused on ship hydrodynamics, manoeuvring, and simulator-based training research. While primarily research-oriented, MARIN is a relevant ecosystem peer given shared interest in maritime simulation technology and Dutch/Belgian maritime cluster collaboration.

Broad incumbents

• Korea Maritime and Ocean University (KMOU): Largest dedicated maritime university in South Korea with extensive nautical and marine engineering programmes and significant research output. Functions as a broader incumbent in the global maritime education space, operating at substantially larger scale than AMA.

Regional players

• Finnish Maritime Academy (Aboa Mare): Turku-based maritime training provider owned by the Åbo Akademi University Foundation, offering STCW-compliant deck and engine officer programmes. Northern European peer with comparable programme mix and Baltic shipping industry alignment.
• Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz (MIWB): Dutch maritime training institution in Terschelling offering STCW-compliant courses and maritime officer training. Closest geographic peer to AMA in the Benelux region, serving the Dutch maritime labour market with overlapping STCW programme portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/search/top?q=antwerp%20maritime%20academy%20alumni&locale=nl_NL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/antwerp-maritime-academy

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Antwerp Maritime Academy