Philippines: Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation

Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT)      

The BSMT program offered by the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy is basically designed to prepare PMMA Midshipmen for duties as deck officers aboard ship after graduation.

It is a four-year residency course consisting of a three-year academic studies (1st, 2nd and 4th year) and one year apprentice training (3rd year) on board commercial vessels plying the international sea lanes as deck cadets.

The course structure is designed in a manner that at the end of the third year of training, BSMT midshipmen would have fulfilled the requirements of Regulation II/4 of the STCW Convention (minimum knowledge requirements for certification of officer-in-charge of navigational watch on ships of 200 gross register tons or more) and would have gained knowledge to enable them to absorb intelligently the professional subjects for the fourth year. The study during the last year is intended to equip BSMT midshipmen with additional knowledge and skills in Marine Transportation. The curriculum has been revised further to comply with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) requirements on General Education Components.

Aside from addressing the academic requirements of deck cadets/midshipmen, the curriculum also provides training for their leadership and discipline. The leadership and discipline training scheme is military oriented. Such approach is necessary considering the uniqueness of the maritime profession which requires the highest degree of leadership, discipline and integrity.

SHIPBOARD TRAINING PROGRAM

             

To complete the Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation or Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering courses, cadets are required to undergo a one-year training onboard ocean-going vessel, which is placed on the third year of the course, making it a sandwich type program. The program is intended to enhance the knowledge and skills acquired during the first two years of theoretical period. Unlike any other maritime institutions, the PMMA assures that every midshipman is fully equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills before he/she graduates, as also required by ship owners and principals. And so, the Academy is charged with the development of well-trained and competent reservoir of future officers for positions in the maritime industry contributing to the economic and social development for the Philippines.

The shipboard training program provides all cadets with the opportunity to use a ship as a sea-going laboratory wherein they are required to complete their Training Record Books. This Record Book will be evaluated and graded and will serve as a requirement for enrollment in the final stage of the course as Fourth Year cadets.

For this year, PMMA has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with twenty-eight (28) Shipping Companies for the Shipboard Training Program of PMMA cadets. These Shipping companies support the cadets in achieving quality education and training. They train cadets to become loyal and committed to the tasks assigned to them by the company.

Source: Philippine Merchant Marine Academy
http://shipping-syllabus.blogspot.com/