اخبار الجزائر – وطن نيوز
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W6nnews.com ==== وطن === تاريخ النشر – 2026-04-25 21:13:00
“Al-Shorouk” inside a training simulation at the Naval Higher School in Tamanfost: In Tamanfost, east of the capital, and on a beach with a great maritime history in Algeria, the Naval Higher School, under the command of Major General Mohamed Butegan, opens its doors for naval military training. Here, education is not limited to theoretical lessons only, but students train inside modern simulations that resemble the real reality at sea. Trainees learn how to save lives at sea, extinguish fires that may break out on ships, and how to deal with situations. Emergency situations, such as chasing “harraga” boats. Sea officers are also trained to drive ships in difficult conditions, inside devices that simulate the real sea in all its details, from waves and storms to navigation between Algerian and foreign ports and international sea lanes and straits such as Gibraltar, the Suez Canal, and others. Brigadier General Belhamad: Advanced levels in modernizing programs and training in accordance with new challenges. To the sound of the sea breeze in Tamanfost, east of the capital, the clock was pointing to eight exactly when we entered the gate of the Naval Higher School, the Mujahid Major General Mohamed Boutijan, in a media visit that from its first moments seemed different in its details and richness. We were received by the Brigadier General, Commander of the school, Orabi Belhamad, who opened the day with a welcome speech that outlined the general framework of this communication activity, stressing that it falls within the policy of openness that It is pursued by the military establishment to strengthen communication bridges with the media, and to inform public opinion, through it, of the structures of the People’s National Army, especially the naval forces. The dean spoke about the development that the school has witnessed, in terms of the pedagogical methods that it has supported, which allow the formation of students capable of graduating at a high level and directly joining the naval forces units with efficiency and readiness. He also stressed the diversity of training that includes different ranks, and the importance of this type of meetings in creating effective channels of communication with the media family, before the tour began with us to discover this edifice up close. The visit began with a comprehensive introductory presentation about the school and its historical surroundings, where this edifice is located in Tamanfost, which means The “right side” is due to its location east of the capital, about 35 kilometers from it, in an area steeped in history, where the civilizations of the Phoenicians, Vandals, and Carthaginians succeeded one another, then the Ottomans, all the way to the colonial period, and traces of those eras still remain, from the Roman baths to the octagonal Ottoman fort, which witnessed resistance meetings at the beginning of the French occupation, according to the explanations that “Al-Shorouk” received from the school’s frameworks. A school that creates captains… from the first class to the latest simulators. In this historical context, the establishment of the school came, which went through several stages, as the National Naval School was established in 1966, and the year 1983 witnessed the start of the formation of the first batch of officer cadets, before it was officially inaugurated as a higher naval school on July 4, 1988 by President Chadli Bendjedid, and in 2014, it bore the name of the late Mujahid Major General Mohand Boutigane, In memory of his career. In terms of organization, the school consists of a central command from which several directorates and departments branch, according to the explanations we received there, the most prominent of which is the Directorate of Education, which supervises training and training, and the Directorate of Administration and Support, in addition to the Protection Regiment. As for its tasks, it includes training officers at various stages, from basic to specialized training, passing through applied naval training and training on modern ship systems. Within the teaching building, we discovered an integrated network of pedagogical methods, including 14 specialized laboratories, including dynamics. Thermal, chemistry, and languages, in addition to automated media halls equipped with the latest means, and auditoriums and Internet halls. However, the most prominent thing that attracted attention is the advanced simulation system, most notably the navigation simulator, which is a virtual environment that simulates the driving of ships in various circumstances. We also learned about the planetarium, which helps students understand astronomical phenomena related to navigation, and the Global Maritime Safety System simulator, which trains them to deal with distress calls. As for the tactical simulator, it is used to embody plans. Decision making in operational circumstances. In the field of maritime training, the Maritime Training Center stands out as a vital applied space, where students train in various activities, from climbing the training mast to swimming, rowing, and sailing sports. We have seen international participations by school teams, the most recent of which took place in India at the end of 2025, while the same team is currently participating in a competition in Italy. As for physical and military training, it is supported by the availability of integrated facilities that include a swimming pool, a multi-sport hall, a football field, and a throwing platform, in addition to Living facilities ensure the comfort of students, including restaurants and accommodation rooms. In terms of academic training, the officer goes through several stages, starting with joint basic training with the Military Academy in Cherchell, then specialized training in the fields of navigation, communications, marine mechanics, and management, before he goes through the application stage on board ships, especially the two school ships “Al-Soumam 937” and “Al-Mallah 938,” which travel hundreds of miles annually through national and foreign ports, from Russia to Norway and other stations, on scientific trips. And training. The school did not neglect continuous training, as it provides courses for officers that include proficiency courses and postgraduate studies, and it also receives trainees from several brotherly and friendly countries, which reflects its international dimension. During the discussion with the dean, we asked a question about keeping the training up to date with current challenges, especially the phenomenon of illegal immigration and chasing “burner” boats, for example. He confirmed that the programs are updated periodically to fit the latest developments, with the participation of students in field trips and training in units. Coast Guard, in addition to the project to establish an institute specialized in this field. At the heart of the navigation simulator, officers learn to drive ships in the middle of storms. After this theoretical part, we entered the application phase, and we began with the navigation simulator, where Major Abidah gave a detailed presentation. The simulator includes a database that includes more than twenty maritime areas, from the ports of Algeria to international straits such as Gibraltar and the Suez Canal, all the way to Singapore and the southern sea of China. We sat inside a cockpit that completely simulates reality, and we follow. The exercise of the departure of four frigates from the port amidst high waves, where we felt as if we were actually at sea. All communications were in English, according to unified international rules, with strict respect for the laws of navigation, such as the “SOLAS” convention for maritime safety, which was approved by the United Nations after the “Titanic” disaster to save lives, and the observers of different nationalities were carefully managing the maneuvers, from determining speed to communication between ships. In this context, the simulation was not limited to the internal composition only, but also reflects the readiness of the Algerian naval forces. To deal with real scenarios at sea, the Naval Forces Command in the Western Waterfront in the Second Military Region carried out a specialized review exercise entitled “Aiding a Ship in Danger and Combating Marine Pollution,” in the presence of foreign observers and executives from various ministerial sectors, in a practical simulation that enhances the international dimension of maritime training. This exercise comes to embody Algeria’s commitment to international treaties and its keenness to maintain the safety of maritime navigation, in addition to confirming its pioneering role as an active party in protecting the marine environment in the Western Basin. To the Mediterranean Sea, and its importance is highlighted in that it targets a sensitive strategic area that includes major ports and vital international maritime shipping routes. Then we moved to the trainees’ hall, where all the details of the exercise are controlled, from the weather condition to the movement of ships, and the performance is monitored via advanced cameras and systems. During this exercise, we were not just spectators, but rather we followed the progress of the scenario step by step as the lurkers actually accomplish it. We were watching how the lurker deals with the radar screen and navigation devices, and how he adjusts the ship’s direction and corrects the course when it changes. Suddenly, a sudden element was introduced into the exercise, as the waves rose and the weather condition changed, which forced the trainees to quickly adjust their decisions and communicate with each other to avoid any risk of collision or deviation, in an accurate simulation of what might actually happen at sea. The goal of this type of training is to transfer the student from theoretical knowledge to real practice without risking real ships, as the simulator allows the same scenario to be repeated several times, with the data changing each time, which gives the lurker the ability to make decisions in real time. It is appropriate, especially in emergency situations, such as rescuing a drowning person or avoiding a marine accident. It also trains them on teamwork inside the cockpit, and respecting the unified language of communication and international rules of communication, which makes them ready to integrate directly into naval units and work within multinational crews, with the same standards adopted internationally, between burning fires and water leaks… The moment of truth for the lurkers. After that, and in the open air, the rhythm of the visit changed completely, as we moved from the halls to the real training space, in front of us rose. The training mast, approximately 50 meters high, towering as if it mimicked the masts of ships at sea. The students stood at the bottom in an organized formation, before the start signal was given, and the climbing began collectively and thoughtfully. It was not just a climb, but a careful exercise in balance and discipline, as each element advanced according to its position, relying on ropes and iron beams, until reaching high levels to open the sails fixed on the horizontal beams, from below. The scene seemed a mixture of audacity and concentration, especially With the factor of altitude and wind, it is a basic training that precedes naval campaigns, and students gain confidence in dealing with masts in real conditions. Women and men participated in it. Once this presentation ended, we headed towards the ship security training center, where we entered another world of challenges. Within this space, there is no room for error, because every exercise simulates scenarios that may be a matter of life or death at sea. We followed a live exercise to simulate a water leak inside a ship, where the scenario began with a sudden entry of water into one of the compartments, coinciding with an “injury.” One of the crew members. In the first moments, the team focused on evacuating the injured person according to precise procedures, before moving quickly to identifying the source of the leak. The trainees were working under time pressure, determining the type of gap, then choosing the appropriate method to fill it, using supports and wooden boards that were tightly attached to stop the flow of water. While the work was underway, another surprising element was introduced with the discovery of a second leak, which forced the team to divide efforts and intervene in two different locations, until they fully controlled the situation and dried the cabin. The situation was no different in the combat exercise. Fires, which in turn reflected a high level of preparedness. Here, we learned on the ground about the three stages of intervention, beginning with immediate extinguishing by the first person present at the fire site, then the arrival of the duty team within a few minutes, equipped with insulating respirators and protective clothing, and finally the support team intervened to complete the operation. We saw how different types of fires are dealt with, whether in closed or open spaces, where water is used for cooling in some cases, while foam is used to isolate the burning material from oxygen in some cases. Another. The system for retrieving and treating used water within the center also caught our attention, in a step that reflects the keenness to rationalize resources even in the midst of the exercises. The tour concluded at the pier, which is an applied space no less important than the rest of the facilities, even though its depth does not exceed 1.5 metres. Here, the training turns into a daily practice of basic marine skills, from driving sailboats to paddling kayaks, all the way to diving and underwater fishing. We followed the students as they dealt with ropes and sails. And the direction of the wind, in a clear harmony that reflects the experience gained through continuous training. These activities are not limited to training only, but extend to participation in national and international competitions, where the school teams represent Algeria in an honorable manner, which is confirmed by the results achieved recently in several maritime demonstrations by Baba Arouj and Khair Al-Din Barbaros in the heart of the Naval School. At the end of the visit, and before we left the school, we headed to a quiet space inside this edifice, where we found a golden record in which the delegations’ visits were recorded, along with some gifts. Souvenirs left by visitors who passed by. The place was simple, but it had a special character, as if it summed up everything we saw during the day. At the entrance to that hall, the statue of Baba Arouj and Khairuddin Barbaros caught our attention, standing steadfast. Their presence did not appear to be just a historical element, but rather expressed a clear connection to the history of the sea in Algeria, and the continuity between this legacy and the current formation within the school. At the moment of departure, the images that we had seen during the day were still present, simulating the driving of ships inside. The halls, the students in the training mast, and the rescue and fire-fighting exercises, many details came together to give one clear idea. Here, naval officers are trained in conditions very close to reality, with daily practical steps…And so our day ended at the Naval Higher School in Tamanfost, a day that revealed a practical aspect of the training within this military edifice, for the sake of serving the nation and preserving Algeria’s sovereignty.
