Our History

MNOAT was established in 1986 in Dar es Salaam by a group of pioneering merchant navy officers who recognised the need for a professional body to represent their interests. The founders included both deck officers and marine engineers who had served on vessels internationally and sought to bring global best practices in maritime safety and professionalism back to Tanzania.

Since its founding, MNOAT has grown to represent hundreds of officers serving on Tanzanian-flagged vessels and Tanzanian officers employed internationally. The association has built relationships with bodies including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), the World Maritime University (WMU), and the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI).