Our company initiated the establishment of a Cadet Training Program to mitigate the scarcity of qualified marine officers in the shipping industry. We believe that the program can help build future qualified officers for our Principals' manpower pool.
The Cadet Training Program was established in 1996 with the help of our Principals, who invested in each qualifying cadet. We select applicants who came only from maritime institutions that were able to comply with the standards set forth by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) of the Philippines.
Presently, we have three kinds of Cadet Programs, namely:
These programs may need time, support and dedication on our part and that of the sponsoring Principals, but the results prove that it is worth the investment.
The Ordinary Cadet Program
The candidates are graduates of Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) and Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSMarE) of CHED-accredited maritime institutions. They should have successfully passed the company standards for Cadets to qualify.
The NIS Cadet Program
This Cadet Program was developed through the support of the Norwegian Shipowners Association (NSA), where candidates are picked out from high school and go through a strict selection system. The education and training of these Cadets are funded by the Norwegian International Ship (NIS) project. The Cadets follow a structured educational system where the first 2 years are spent in school premises, the 3rd year for shipboard training onboard overseas vessels owned by sponsoring Companies, and the last year is spent again in school to complete their maritime education (2-1-1).
After completing the 4th year, and provided they have completed the required 12-month minimum shipboard training, they can already take the licensure examination for an Officer-In-Charge of a Navigational Watch or Officer-In-Charge of an Engineering Watch. They may choose to join their sponsoring companies before or after this process.
Only a few maritime institutions in the Philippines are able to comply with the NIS Project requirements. These are the following:
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The John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation Inc. (JBLCFI)
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The University of Cebu (UC)
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Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP)
The ABOJEB Cadet Program
Candidates are those, who, aside from having graduated from CHED-accredited maritime institutions, and having passed the Company standards for cadets, are sent to undergo upgrading courses in order to enhance their knowledge. The training courses were developed in cooperation with the Norwegian Training Center-Manila. Training spans from basic ship operations to selected technical courses to support the cadet’s future shipboard duties. Equivalent certificates are issued accordingly. The whole program takes 16 consecutive weeks comprising 10 different course programs and using the best course materials, teaching aids and facilities, including simulators. This program is being supported by sponsoring Principals.
