International Maritime Academy — Training the Next Generation of Bangladeshi Seafarers
International Maritime Academy, known as IMA, is the first private maritime academy in Bangladesh approved by the Department of Shipping. Established by Haque & Sons Ltd. in 2007, IMA has been producing certified, sea-ready nautical and engineering officers every year since its founding.
Every cadet who graduates from IMA enters the Haque & Sons Ltd. managed fleet directly, creating a continuous pipeline of well-trained, company-familiar officers for our international principals.
Why Haque & Sons
Why Haque & Sons Built Its Own Maritime Academy
Building and running a full maritime academy is a significant investment. Haque & Sons Ltd. made that investment deliberately because we believe the quality of a seafarer begins long before they step onboard a vessel.
By training our own cadets from the very beginning of their careers, we shape their seamanship habits, their safety culture, their technical knowledge, and their understanding of how we operate. When they join one of our managed vessels, they are not strangers to our systems or our standards.
That is the difference between a cadet trained anywhere and a cadet trained by us.
About International Maritime Academy
IMA is the first private maritime academy in Bangladesh to receive approval from the Department of Shipping. It was established in 2007 as part of Haque & Sons Ltd.’s long-term commitment to developing human resources for the international maritime industry.
The academy is located on a seven-acre campus in Bangladesh and operates from a seven-story administrative building covering 110,000 square feet of space. The campus is fully equipped with practical training facilities that give cadets hands-on experience with the equipment they will use throughout their careers at sea.
The IMA Training Program
Program Duration The IMA program runs for a total of 36 months. The first two years are spent on the IMA campus covering academic and practical maritime training. The third year is spent at sea on a Haque & Sons Ltd. managed vessel, giving cadets real onboard experience under supervision.
Annual Intake and Graduation IMA accepts and graduates 100 cadets every year. The intake is split evenly between two disciplines, 50 nautical cadets and 50 engineering cadets. This balanced output ensures we produce both deck officers and engineering officers in equal numbers to meet the demands of our managed fleet.
Academic and Practical Curriculum The two-year campus program covers all core areas of maritime education including nautical science and navigation, marine engineering fundamentals, maritime law and regulations, seamanship and practical ship handling, safety procedures and emergency response, cargo handling and stowage, stability and ship construction, and STCW mandatory training requirements.
Sea Service Year The third year of the program takes cadets out of the classroom and onto the water. They are placed on Haque & Sons Ltd. managed vessels under the supervision of experienced officers. This sea year gives them direct exposure to real vessel operations, reinforces everything they have learned on campus, and prepares them fully for certification.
IMA Campus and Facilities
The IMA campus is one of the most well-equipped maritime training environments in Bangladesh.
Seven-acre campus providing ample space for residential, academic, and practical training facilities.
Seven-story administrative building with 110,000 square feet of total space covering classrooms, offices, workshops, and residential areas.
Fire house for practical firefighting training, allowing cadets to practice fire response and suppression in a controlled environment.
Life boat for practical survival craft and rescue training, giving cadets hands-on experience with life-saving appliances.
Fully equipped engineering workshop for practical marine engineering training, covering machinery operation, maintenance, and repair.
This infrastructure ensures IMA cadets receive training that goes well beyond classroom theory and develops genuine practical competence before their sea year begins.
The Five-Year Contract Commitment
After completing the 36-month IMA program and receiving their certification as qualified officers, all IMA graduates commit to a five-year contract with Haque & Sons Ltd.
This commitment works in the interest of everyone involved. Our principals benefit from a continuous supply of officers who are already trained to our standards and familiar with our management systems. Our graduates benefit from guaranteed employment and career development within a large, established maritime company. And Haque & Sons Ltd. maintains a strong, growing pool of well-qualified officers for our expanding fleet.
Several batches of IMA graduates are already serving on our managed vessels as second officers, demonstrating that this model works in practice.
IMA and the Future of Bangladeshi Maritime Education
Bangladesh has a strong and growing reputation as a supplier of qualified seafarers to the international shipping industry. IMA plays an important role in maintaining and raising that reputation by producing certified, internationally compliant officers who are ready to serve on vessels trading worldwide.
As the first private maritime academy in Bangladesh approved by the Department of Shipping, IMA set a standard that helped shape how private maritime education is delivered in the country.
Haque & Sons Ltd. continues to invest in IMA because we believe that the future of our company and the future of Bangladesh’s maritime industry depend on developing the next generation of skilled, professional seafarers.
How IMA Connects to Our Wider Operations
IMA does not operate independently. It is an integral part of how Haque & Sons Ltd. manages crew quality across our entire operation.
Cadets trained at IMA feed directly into our crew management pipeline. They are already familiar with our processes, our expectations, and our standards before they ever join a managed vessel. This means our principals receive officers who hit the ground running from day one.
Once these officers are serving at sea, they have access to ongoing upgrading and professional development through our post-sea training center, Bangladesh Maritime Training Institute, creating a complete career development pathway within the Haque & Sons system.
Approved and Recognized
International Maritime Academy holds approval from the Department of Shipping Bangladesh as the first private maritime academy in the country. All training programs comply with STCW 2010 requirements and applicable IMO standards.
Haque & Sons Ltd. itself holds ISO 9001:2015 certification from DNV and is MLC 2006 certified. These company-level certifications reflect the same commitment to quality and compliance that runs through everything IMA does.
For more information about International Maritime Academy, visit the IMA website directly at internationalmaritimeacademy.org
