SAMINavantia launches on-the-job training program for Saudi engineers

RIYADH – SAMINavantia Naval Industries, a joint venture between the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and the Spanish company Navantia, has launched an on-the-job Training (OJT) program, on the sidelines of the first Saudi International Maritime Forum (SIM 2019), in Riyadh.

The Saudi International Maritime Forum is being held under the patronage of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, and was inaugurated by the Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayadh Bin Hamid Al-Ruwaili in the presence of Commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces Lt. Gen. Fahd Al-Ghufaili and the President of the Public Transport Authority (PTA) Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih.

The first batch of the trainees includes 11 Saudi male and female engineers, who recently enrolled in the SAMINavantia OJT program, which kicked off at Navantia's San Fernando shipyard in Cadiz, Spain.

The trainees will benefit from the practical experience and professional training as part of the team working on the joint venture's Avante 2200 project.

The SAMINavantia OJT program comes in line with Saudi Arabia's prudent and ambitious vision of localizing 50% of its military equipment spending by 2030.

The Vice President for Human Resources in SAMI Muhammad Bushnaq mentioned how the Spanish officials were impressed by the high academic standard of each of the Saudi trainees, the way they treated others well and their noble values. He stressed that this gives an honorable image of the sons of the nation abroad.

Bushnaq added: “This initiative is one of many on-the-job training programs that aim to build a strong base of Saudi men and women, who are capable of contributing to supporting the military sector with the highest technical and scientific standards and developing a solid base for the defense industries.”

It is awaited that the new training program would support the transfer of technology to the Saudi market and contribute to developing the local capabilities in design and testing, the local program for supporting the TLS program, program management, upgrading facilities and training.

It is noteworthy that 24 engineers are scheduled to participate in the Avante Project, as part of the program. They will be divided into three different teams. They are systems and software engineering team (SS-ET), the TLS support engineering and combat systems team (TLS-ET) and the technical team that will actually install the system of combat hardware and software (INST-TT).

The list of 11 Saudi male and female engineers participating in the SAMINavantia OJT Program includes engineers Hassan Fahd Al-Muzayyini holding a master’s in electrical engineering from George Washington University, Washington, US; Abdullah Al-Masri, holding a master’s in data science and engineering from Tokai University, Kanto, Japan; Sultan Al-Ghuaili, B.Sc. in industrial engineering from Arizona University, Tucson, US; Reema Al-Mishary, B.Sc. in software engineering from Al-Faisal University, Saudi Arabia; Saad Al-Khumali, M.Sc. in computer science and software engineering from Shipinsburg University in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State, US; Fahd Al-Owdan, B.Sc. in computer science from Texas University at St. Antonio, US; Abdullah Khalid, B.Sc. in computer engineering from Inha University in South Korea; Abdulrahman Al-Ammar, B.Sc. in computer science from Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK; Abdullah Al-Dayel, B.Sc. in software engineering from Al-Faisal University, Saudi Arabia; Rawan Al-Abdulkareem, B.Sc. in software engineering from Al-Faisal University, Saudi Arabia; and Baha Gazzaz, B.Sc. in computer engineering and software engineering from King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia.