AbstractSouth Africa has a well developed and thriving Merchant Navy backed up by an efficient and modern navy. In its early days all training for these two services was done overseas but in 1921 a training ship was donated to the country to enable young South Africans to train as naval cadets.This aim was later changed to training merchant navy cadets and a two year course was instituted leading to a school leaving certificate. During World War 2 the ship was returned to the British Navy and her cadets moved to a shore establishment which then became a nautical college. The aim of the course was changed once again when the SA Navy took over the college and both forces trained in the same establishment. A school leaving certificate became a necessary entrance qualification and the course was shortened to one year. In the interim a Naval Gymnasium was established for training Naval Cadets, a Military Academy for naval officers wishing to do a degree and a Nautical Academy for Merchant Navy officers studying for advancement.Rationalisation has led to the number of colleges being reduced to three by a process of mergers. Each of these colleges has a definite aim and is highly successful. The subjects taught are varied and interesting and the means employed to obtain most satisfactory results are of note. An intriguing sidelight is that although South Africa has never had any contact in this field with the USA, the syllabus envolved over the passage of time at one of her Academies is almost identical to that of Annapolis. The growing number of South African ships seen in US ports is mute testimony to the efficiency of her training methods.