OREANDA-NEWS. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. today announced the graduation of 105 students in the fourth class of the "3rd Year Program," which MOL introduced with the goal of developing crewmembers who will uphold strict safety standards in vessel operation.

The 3rd Year Program targets new seafarers from among third-year students at partner maritime schools in the Philippines. MOL provides education and training at the Magsaysay Institute of Shipping (MIS) (*1), its training center in the Philippines.

On hand for the graduation ceremony were Administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Dr. Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr, Development Bank of the Philippines Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer Benel D. Lagua, MOL President Koichi Muto, MOL Senior Managing Executive Officer Masaaki Nemoto, and others.

MOL President Muto delivered a powerful message to the graduate students at the ceremony: "Safe operation is social responsibility for ocean shipping companies, and is an essential business foundation. Each crewmember's tireless efforts on safety are indispensable to achieve safe operation. Please bear in mind in all your actions that safety is always the highest priority under any situation."

MOL Senior Managing Executive Officer Nemoto also addressed the graduates, saying "When you execute your professional duties, please do not put excessive confidence in manuals and technologies, but fully use your five senses of human beings, wisdom, and instinct, and demonstrate the seamanship you have learned at MIS, such as the ability to foresee risks, judgment to overcome risks, inner strength, stamina, and teamwork, and overcome many hurdles you may face in the future."

The program received accreditation as the equivalent to university-level education under the Academe-Industry Linkage Program (*2) promoted by the Philippine government. Selected students will study at the MOL training institute and aboard MOL-operated vessels for the second half of a four-year university curriculum. Graduates of the program will be recruited as MOL crewmembers after training aboard one of 15 training vessels, which were specially equipped with additional cabins for cadets, and MOL-operated vessels.