Work has begun to build the town’s first state-of-the-art maritime skills academy in Whitfield.

It is part of family-run Viking Recruitment’s £6.5 million training base, and will provide boost for jobs and the Dover economy.

By April 2016, it will be the finished product of chairman Dieter Jaenicke, who dreamed of localising such a vital resource and has spent 15 years making it a reality.

He said: “Dover has a rich seafaring heritage with many people employed in the maritime industries across east Kent. Until now, they have had to travel further afield and even abroad for such training, but from 2016 they will be able to train here in Dover.

“The new centre will also provide an important showcase for maritime careers to young people, whether at sea or ashore.”

It will comprise a firefighting and a sea survival centre with real-life environmental effects.

The first phase will be completed by spring 2016 and will see a swimming pool complex built which will house all survival training for commercial, yacht and offshore industries.

It will simulate all weather conditions and measure four metres deep to accommodate underwater evacuation training.

The second phase will feature training rooms, equipment and a conference room.

Kitchens, a restaurant and a bar will also be built for maritime hospitality training.

Viking Recruitment used to be based in the town centre until three years ago, when it moved to Beechwood Business Park, next door to the development.

Stuart Jaenicke, head of finance, said: “From the old sea training school in the town that has now been converted to flats, my dad has always seen this as his ultimate target, to build a training academy in Dover.

“To say we are proud of our father is an understatement.

“It will be a deserving testimony to Dover’s great seafaring history and will help put Dover back on the map as a destination point, not a thoroughfare to Europe.”

The Viking Recruitment started in 1988, and now employs 47 people from across the district.