2024/02/20 MOL Magsaysay Maritime Academy in Philippines Holds 1st Commencement Exercises Ceremony -Aiming to Ensure World's Highest Level of Safety and Quality by Training and[...]

February 20, 2024

TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto) today announced that MOL Magsaysay Maritime Academy Inc (MMMA Note1), a merchant marine academy operated jointly by MOL and Magsaysay Maritime Corporation (MMC Note 2) in the Philippines, held its 1st Commencement Exercises Ceremony on February 20.

The ceremony, held at the school in Dasmariñas City, a suburb of Manila, was attended by about 600 people. Special guests included Congressman Ron Salo, of the Philippine House of Representatives, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa, and Doris Magsaysay Ho, President and CEO of MMC's shareholding company, A. Magsaysay, Inc. The event celebrated the departure of the inaugural class of students (Note 3) who completed the entire curriculum, including shipboard training.

At the 1st Commencement Exercises Ceremony
(Bottom right: MOL President & CEO Hashimoto, delivering a speech at the ceremony)

In his congratulatory address, MOL President & CEO Hashimoto expressed his deep appreciation to the school community and the graduates' families for their efforts in overcoming the ordeal of the COVID-19 pandemic and graduating the inaugural class of students. His message to the graduates was: "While keeping in mind your gratitude to your families who had supported your studies, I hope that you will make the most of the knowledge and experience you have gained while in the academy and open up new paths for yourselves."

About half of the graduates (Note 4) will work onboard vessels operated by MOL Group as third officers and third engineers after obtaining their maritime certifications, working their way up to captain and chief engineer.

As the volume of global seaborne trade increases, it is becoming increasingly important to secure highly skilled seafarers to ensure safe transport services. Filipino seafarers play a core role as MOL Group crewmembers. While ship operation technology is becoming more sophisticated, they are expected to play more active roles in offering safe transport services. MOL Group will continue to develop competent seafarers who can be immediately effective through their training and basic education for four years at MMMA.
Through this initiative, MOL Group strives to train seafarers and create jobs that will lead to "contributing to the growth and development of people and communities," which is one of the group's sustainability issues. MOL Group shall continue to support people's day-to-day fundamentals as part of its safety-focused operations as a responsible custodian of a social infrastructure business.

(Note 1) Please refer to the following past press releases.
March 9, 2016: MOL Breaks Ground on New Maritime Academy in Philippines - Opening scheduled for June 2018 -
May 8, 2018: MOL New Maritime Academy in Philippines to Open in August - Construction of Facilities Completed, Official Approval Received -
September 14, 2018: Inauguration Ceremony Marks Opening of MOL Magsaysay Maritime Academy -700 guests on hand, including Philippine government officials -
December 21, 2021: MOL Holds Welcoming Ceremony for 137 students from Inaugural Class of MOL Magsaysay Maritime Academy (MMMA)

(Note 2) One of the largest seafarer manning companies in the Philippines. In 1997, MOL and MMC jointly established Magsaysay MOL Marine Inc., a manning company.

(Note 3) The enrollment of the inaugural class was 280, of which 140 are deck cadets and another 140 are engine cadets.
Of these, except for those who were on board due to scheduling conflicts, 91 attended this ceremony.

(Note 4) MOL Group and MMC each accepts about half of the graduates.

[Outline of MMMA]
Name: MOL Magsaysay Maritime Academy Inc. (4-year merchant marine university, boarding school)
Location: Salitran, Dasmariñas City, Cavite State, the Philippines (about 30km south of Manila)
No. of students: Max. 300 per year (150 each for navigation school and engine school)
Opening: August 2018
President: Dr. Michael C. Morales

MOL Group 5 Sustainability Issues
MOL Group identifies "Sustainability Issues" (Materiality) as our key issues for sustainable growth with society through realization of the Group Vision.
We anticipate this initiative to contribute especially to the realization of "Safety & Value -Provide added value through safe transportation and our social infrastructure business-"and "Human & Community -Contributing to the growth and development of people and communities-."

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