Academy to produce 'sought-after' mariners

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

18 Mar 2008

A LOCAL university has developed a maritime program that seeks to produce graduates who will help address the growing global demand for merchant marines. The Southwestern University (SWU) Maritime Academy, however, is unlike other schools offering maritime courses. The SWU Maritime Academy is offering a regimental program, which means that its students will be trained military-style, live, eat and study on campus.Andrew Aznar, SWU chairman of the board, said graduates are assured of employment as an officer of merchant ships like bulk carriers, and cargo, container and passenger ships, among others.He said the demand for merchant marines worldwide is growing. He said Japan alone needs 20,000 while Europe needs about 50,000 maritime officers for their merchant ships.SWU president Dr. Eldegario Gonzales said the regimental program will produce quality maritime graduates who answer the needs of the industry. He added that the shortage of merchant marines in the international shipping industry is partly the result of unqualified maritime graduates.Niche''We are out to create a niche,'' Gonzales said.SWU Maritime Academy faculty members said the graduates of the program will be the ''the elite, the preferred mariners.''SWU has invested in a P30-million dorm building at the main campus that will house maritime students. Aznar said the dorm should be ready by May as the regimental program will be offered starting June this year with a target of 600 enrollees.But the P450,000 tuition for the whole four-year course may be too high for some, especially for those who come from low-income families. Recognizing this, Aznar said SWU has developed a ''Study Now, Pay Later'' program for qualified individuals.Under the program, a qualified student can avail himself or herself of assistance from any of SWU’s partner-companies. Aznar said the university has signed agreements with three manning services companies-Univan Ship Management Ltd., Hammonia Marine Services and Centrophil-as well as the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to extend loans to pay for the tuition of deserving students.LoanRosalier Dagondon, head of DBP super region management office, said the state-owned bank recognizes the growing demand for maritime graduates and the financial difficulties of those who want to study in maritime schools.Since marine merchants are highly paid, with monthly salaries ranging from $8,500 to $15,000, the students would be able to pay off the loan for their tuition, Aznar said.Meanwhile, former Cordova mayor Arleigh Sitoy said the Municipal Government, now headed by his father Adelino, is studying the possibility of giving scholarships to deserving town residents who want to study in SWU's Maritime Academy.Arleigh said the local government is also looking into the possibility of requiring investors in Cordova to sponsor the education of deserving residents in the maritime academy.