The Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific recently achieved another milestone with the graduation of the first batch of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd)-approved Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation and Engineering (BSMTE).

MAAP president Vice Admiral Eduardo Ma. R. Santos (AFP, ret.) said the academy is the only institution offering this course in the Philippines, and it is a “fusion” of the curricula for the Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) for deck officers and the Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSMarE) for engineer Officers.

The course lasts for nine semesters or four and a half years and the graduates can take the licensure examinations for OIC of a Deck Watch and OIC of an Engineering Watch administered by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), according to Santos who added that “aboardship, these dual qualified officers can be assigned either to the deck or to the engine department as deemed necessary by the shipping companies concerned.”

This scheme has been practiced predominantly in European shipping firms but of late, only relatively large companies are using it, he said.

This BSMTE course offering at MAAP is customer-driven. AP Moeller- MAERSK Lines specifically requested for a Dual Qualification Course in line with its innovative scheme to develop a “dual maritime leader.”

The course was officially opened in 2006 with 22 male midshipmen. Now there are 16 in the graduating class, while there is still a total of 115 cadets in the succeeding classes, with all scholars of AP Moeller-MAERSK. Midshipman Angelito D. Gonzales of Limay, Bataan graduating at the top of his class.

Vice Admiral SANTOS, together with MAAP board chairman Capt. Gregorio S. Oca (MM, Ph.D.) congratulated the graduates for surviving, consequently hurdling the grueling academic schedule, and expressed high hopes that their double dose of education would result in a double dose of accomplishments.

In his commencement address, Mr. Jesper Dalgaard Larsen, President of MAERSK Filipinas Inc. exhorted the graduates to continue persevering to improve themselves and show to the world the versatility and competence of Filipino seafarers.