Philippines: NYK-TDG Maritime Academy Holds Graduation Ceremony for Its First Class

The NYK-TDG Maritime Academy (NTMA) held a graduation ceremony on September 16 for the first 116 students enrolled at the academy. NTMA is jointly run by NYK and business partner Transnational Diversified Group (TDG). The students completed three years of academic study and one year of training on board NYK vessels.

The graduation ceremony was attended by invited guests Rosalinda D. Baldoz, secretary of the Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment, and Toshinao Urabe, the Japanese ambassador to the Philippines, along with NYK president Yasumi Kudo and TDG founder and chairman J. Roberto C. Delgado, among others. As the students’ families looked on, Mr. Kudo and Mr. Delgado handed over diplomas and letters one by one in a very moving ceremony.

In his commencement address, Mr. Kudo provided encouragement to the students: “Today’s graduation ceremony is an important milestone for the shipping industry and the Republic of the Philippines. The shipping industry contributes to the growth of the world economy and has an important responsibility in the protection of our natural environment. Qualified seafarers are needed to ensure safe navigation to prevent accidents that could damage the environment, as well as make use of all methods and technologies to reduce emissions. We are looking to you to be multi-skilled seafarers who enhance NYK’s competitive strength and thus open the gateway for the next generation of seafarers from the Philippines.”

At the nationwide Maritime School Assessment Program (MSAP) examination held for students attending merchant vessel seamanship schools in the Philippines, most of the NTMA students were at the top of the class in academic performance. NTMA students are now taking the ship officer examination and all the examinees so far have acquired seafarer certificates of competency. After obtaining the certificate, each seafarer will begin a career as a third officer or third engineer on an NYK ship.

Before the ceremony, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in the presence of Mr. Kudo and Mr. Delgado to pray for the safe realization of the expansion of the academy’s facilities and the construction of crew training facilities adjacent to the academy.

The new facilities will be completed in 2013, allowing NYK to further expand and develop education and training for senior Filipino officers.

Outline of NYK-TDG Maritime Academy (NTMA)

Established: June 3, 2007

Size: Number of students: 120 per academic year; Marine navigation (60), Marine Engineering (60); Instructors: about 40, including part-time instructors

Location: Calamba City in the suburbs of Manila (about a one-hour drive from Manila)

Curriculum: Four years (three years for academic lessons and one year for onboard training)

Mission: To provide higher education to foster global seafarers, focusing on building an individual’s sense of humanity and the acquirement of practical maritime technologies.

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Source: NYK, October 4, 2011.