MOL Upgrades Seafarer Education in the Philippines

March 21, 2012 - PRLog -- Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) today announced the graduation of 84 students in the first batch of its “Third Year Program” at Magsaysay Institute of Shipping (MIS*1), MOL’s training center in the Philippines. On hand for the graduation ceremony were Dr. Sinforoso M. Birung, Director IV, Office of Programs and Standards from the Philippines Commission on Higher Education, Doris Magsaysay Ho, President of Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, MOL Senior Managing Executive Officer Soichi Hiratsuka, and others.

MOL introduced the Third Year Program, targeting new Filipino seafarers from among third-year students at seven partner maritime schools in the Philippines, with the goal of developing seafarers who will uphold strict safety standards in vessel operation. The company has provided education and training at MIS since June 2011.

MOL Senior Managing Executive Officer Hiratsuka addressed the ceremony, saying “Safe operation is our social responsibility as an ocean shipping company, and the foundation of our customers’ trust. Building upon your experience at MIS, I hope you will become worthy members of MOL through hands-on instruction aboard MOL’s training ship Spirit of MOL and its operated vessels. I hope you will grow as personnel who represent the future of ocean shipping.” The students left MIS with high hopes for the future.

The program was accredited as equivalent to university-level education under the Academe-Industry Linkage Program(*2) promoted by the Philippine government. Selected students will be educated and trained at the MOL training institute and on the training ship for the second half of a four-year university curriculum. After finishing their studies at MIS, they will be recruited after training aboard the Spirit of MOL and other MOL-operated vessels for 12 months.

*1.    Magsaysay Institute of Shipping (MIS):
MIS was jointly established by MOL and Magsaysay Maritime Corporation in 1993. The institute provides thorough safety education, various types of practical training, and rule-based training in preparation for serving aboard MOL-operated vessels. Since 2007, MIS has contributed the development and enhancement of maritime education programs, improving students' skills through supplementary lessons, technical support to instructors, and upgrading of maritime curriculum, in collaboration with designated maritime schools in the Philippines.

*2.    Academe-Industry Linkage Program:
A program to help schools upgrade the education of students and enhance employment opportunities for top-quality students, based on cooperation between academia and industry.

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NOTES TO EDITORS:
MOL is one of the world’s largest multi-modal transport companies, operating 861 vessels and employing a workforce in excess of 9,200 worldwide. MOL operates one of the largest and most diverse networks of liner and logistics services around the globe, including weekly Transpacific, Transatlantic, Americas and Asia-Europe services.

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