During the first SAFETY4SEA Forum in Manila, Vadm Eduardo Ma R. Santos, President, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, provided insight into efficient ways to attract the younger generation in the industry and key challenges that we need to address for the development of competent graduates who shall possess the character, knowledge, and skills necessary for the successful pursuit of a maritime career.
When you start teaching and developing safety, the way forward is to get the young people away from their comfort zones; it is something that you have to force to them.
MAAP is owned, developed and operated by a union, by AMOSUP. It has 122 hectares property, 53 buildings and 62 simulators and getting two more. Almost 4000 officers have been graduated from MAAP, including 114 women. We have tried to ensure their employment after graduation; about 88% of them are still working in the maritime industry. We are certified by ISO 9001; by Quality Maritime Education and Training, by Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization (OPITO), which is the officer’s petroleum industry and by the local PACUCOA. We are members of IAMU- the international association of maritime universities- only 67 in the world; two from the Philippines and GLOBALMET and AMFUF. Also, MAAP is a member of the International Association of Maritime Universities, GlobalMET, AMFUF, IMAREST and the Nautical Institute.
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We are now on a transition stage; we are trying to develop and train our cadets to become officers for their conventional ships and at the same time, we are striving to give more input to the new generation and invest in the future. Thus, we have a workshop skills laboratory; two training ships; we have upgraded our bridge and engine simulators to K-SIM, even our LAB-VOLT laboratories are now using advance automation and the cadets are doing that.
Our Learning Management System was enhanced with the inclusion of Seagull and Videotel CBTs. Many cadets have their own tablets donated by their sponsors. MAAP loans tablets to other cadets to ensure wider access to the LMS. All classrooms are equipped with smart TV, so that instructors will refrain from doing all the talking. Also, we have robotics classes -and two 3D printers in order the cadets to operate and ensure that in the future when they are confronted with a 3D printer, they know what to do, we are going to acquire one more 3D printer to ensure that we can manufacture spare parts for ships in our 3D printers and we have two drones so that the cadets will know how it is to operate remote control.
As part of innovations at MAAP, the following on-goings projects are on schedule:
- Block Chain Technology for Certificates, TOR, Training Record Book, etc.
- Ballast Water Treatment Simulator
- Grid Solar System
- Two(2) Alumni to WMU for MS (MET and Logistics Mgmt)
- Training on MAN ME-C engines
For MAAP, we are not stopping at certificates, we are also going to put into blockchain the training record book and the transcript of records. What’s more, we have a ballast water treatment simulator which is going to be operational next month. Also to reduce our carbon footprint- all of our outdoor lights are solar- we are going to shift also indoor lights into grid the solar system.
From our graduates we have 192 master mariners; 3 of them are women- one is actually onboard a tanker as a master at this time. We have 200 licensed chief engineers- two are women, chief mates and second engineers.
In order to attract new cadets, we do not advertise; we have 52 testing centers all over the country- one for each major city; each city or each testing center is backed up by a parents’ organization. So it’s the parents that spot the good prospects and convince them. So, in essence we are attracting them because first it’s free tuition, free board and lodging, that’s a very efficient way of attracting talent and of course we have to filter them through this procedure. On top of that we show them all the technology that we have, and all the equipment that we have to ensure that they will get a high quality of training, we have two training ships and many facilities simulators up to VR, full mission bridge, fire-fighting facilities, chemical tankers, Helicopter Underwater Escape Trainer, gape trainers; these are Free Fall Lifeboat and of course, research.
Ways to develop the safety culture at MAAP
- Lectures
- Risk Assessment/Job Hazard Analyses
- Applying hazard control measures
- Elimination
- Substitution
- Isolation
- Engineering and Admin Controls
- Safety posters
- Complete PPE
- Toolbox meetings
- Midshipmen regulations
- Behavioral Change
More importantly, we need to focus on behavioral change. We have to change their behavior in order for them to really maintain a safety culture and as always, we keep on reminding that safety is a way of life.
Above article is an edited version of Vadm Santos during 2019 SAFETY4SEA Manila Forum
View his video presentation herebelow
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and not necessarily those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
About Vadm Eduardo Ma R. Santos, President, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific
VADM EDUARDO MA R SANTOS was the 23rd Chief of Navy of the Philippines from 1996 to 1999. He was responsible for the initial modernization of the Philippine Fleet, with the acquisition of three (3) Peacock class patrol ships and production of locally manufactured patrol craft fast (PCF). He also served as Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
VADM SANTOS likewise served with the Philippine Coast Guard as Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District in 1989-90. He was also the Chief of Naval Intelligence of the Philippine Navy from 1994 to 1996.
From 1980-1984, he was the Manager of the premier and busiest port in the Philippines, the Port of Manila.
His public service earned for him two Legion of Honor Awards, five Distinguished Service Stars, an Outstanding Achievement Medal, two Distinguished Navy Crosses, and 14 Military Merit Medals.
Upon retirement from the public life in 1999, ADM SANTOS became the first President of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, a position he holds up to the present. He is also the Executive Vice President of the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) – the largest Seaman’s Union in Asia.
He heads many social/professional organizations in the country notably: President of the Bagong Bayani Foundation for OFWs, President of the Philippine Chapter of The Nautical Institute (NI) and President of the Philippine Chapter of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMAREST). He is also the Chairman of the Philippine Navy Board of Advisers and President of the Citizens’ Support your Navy Foundation.
In the international scene, he is Vice Chairman of GlobalMET, Chair of the Finance Committee of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) and a member of ITF’s Ships’ Automation Working Group.
