Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation

The Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) is a four-year undergraduate degree program which leads to a professional career in the maritime industry, as a marine deck officer. Through this program, the students will be able to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge needed to accomplish their future duties and responsibilities of a marine officer, and will be exposed to theories and practices in seamanship, navigation, ship business, meteorology, and marine laws. 

Some of the subjects taught in this program include:

• Ship Handling and Maneuvering
• Ships, Ship Routines, and Construction
• Cargo Handling and Storage
• Merchant Ships Search and Rescue
• Deck Watchkeeping
• Shipboard Personnel Management
• Basic Marine Engineering
• Ship Management Systems
• Meteorology and Oceanography
• Radio Communication
• Stability and Trim
• Terrestrial Navigation
• Electronic Navigation
• Celestial Navigation
• Collision Regulation
• Basic Safety
• Maritime Laws
• Marine Pollution and Prevention

The Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation is taught through classroom-based frontal instructions, regular hands-on trainings usually conducted in special laboratories, as well as simulation activities regarding the use of modern ship equipments like the RADAR, ARPA, and GMDSS communication. 

What are the admission requirements for BSMT?
Requirements at each school may differ, but these are the common requirements:

• Must be a high school graduate. 
  Those who did not complete high school education may opt to first attend Alternative Learning System (ALS) and pass the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) to qualify for college. However, some universities only offer selected courses for PEPT passers admission.
• Must pass the college entrance examination.
• Must pass the interview conducted by the college/university admission officer
• Medical laboratory results and health certificate
• Good Moral certificate from the previous school (sometimes from enrollees Barangay)
• Some schools require you to pass the qualifying test implemented by the Marine Transportation Department.
• Some schools require a particular rating in the National Secondary Assessment Test (NSAT)

What skills will help you succeed in this profession?

• Technical Skills – the ability to perform various tasks related to ship handling, navigation, and radio communication. Moreover, this can also refer to the ability to operate various equipments and software.
• Endurance – this refers to the ability to withstand difficult situations, hardships, or stress. This skill is important because working as a marine deck officer involves difficult tasks, long hours of work, and entails being away from your family.
• Navigation Skills – this skill refers to the ability to determine position and location. Having this skill will serve as an advantage because ship navigation is one of the areas taught in this course.
• Organizational Skills – these skills are needed for you to be able to organize your time, meet the requirements of your job, and obtain optimal productivity. This is important because you will surely be assigned to accomplish different tasks especially during the training period.
• Interpersonal Skills – the ability to communicate and interact harmoniously with other people will definitely help you work on group projects and activities with your classmates. This skill is also important in order for you to get along with your shipmates.
• English Skills – the ability to read, write, and communicate well in English is necessary because most of the technical literature and required reading materials are in this language.
• Critical Thinking – the ability to think logically and make use of reasoning in evaluating the different solutions or approaches to a problem
• Analytical Skills – the ability to identify the kinds of data that are actually important and figure out how to solve problems

How difficult is this course?
BS in Marine Transportation is of average difficulty. Although this course involves technical concepts and practices regarding the different aspects of seamanship, it is still not as difficult as science, engineering or IT courses. 

How long does it take to complete BS in Marine Transportation program in the Philippines?
Normally, the BSMT program takes 4 years to complete. Internship takes a whole year to complete, so basically, this course involves 3 years of school-based education and 1-year internship period. 
Some schools that apply the trimestral school calendar system complete the program in a shorter period of time. 

On The Job Training / Internship
This course entails a 1-year apprenticeship period aboard an actual ship in order to expose students to the real-life applications of the concepts and techniques that they learned in the classroom. Some schools help the students find companies where they could work as an intern, while some allow students to find their own. Moreover, some companies provide an internship allowance while others do not. 

The Board Exams
Before taking any of the relevant licensure examinations, graduates of BSMT must have an actual work experience aboard a ship, and the minimum length of service depends upon the requirements of the PRC. 

The examinations are conducted by the Board of Marine Deck and Marine Engine Officers under the supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). They are scheduled twice a year in the months of January and July. 

• Officer-in-Charge of a Navigational Watch Licensure ExaminationRequired for working as a Second Mate/ Second Officer, an OIC of a Navigational Watch, or as the Third Mate. 
  
  Requirements for taking this exam:
  • An approved Sea-going Service as: 
    a.) Apprentice Mate or Deck Cadet for at least twelve (12) months on board sea going ship of 500 Gross Tonnage or more. 
    b.) Ordinary Seaman and Able Bodied Seaman with at least twelve (12) months seagoing service on board ship of 500 gross tonnage or more shall be allowed to take the written or walk-in licensure examination. However, if the applicant passed the said examination, he shall not be issued Certificate of Competency and Endorsement Certificate until he completes the thirty six (36) months seagoing service. 
    c.) Other positions such as Deck Trainee / Deck Assistant / Deck Boy / Messman / Bosun with at least thirty six (36) months seagoing service on board ship of 500 gross tonnage or more.
  • Proof of Sea Service: 
    Several certificates and papers proving your work experience as a seamen.
• Chief Mate Licensure ExaminationRequired for work as a First Mate/First Officer. 
  
  Requirements for taking this exam:
  • An approved Sea-going Service in the Operational Level of at least twelve (12) months on board sea-going ship of 500 gross tonnage or more.
  • Proof of Sea Service: 
    Several certificates and papers proving your work experience as a seamen.
• Master Mariner Licensure ExaminationRequired for working as a Master Mariner, Chief Officer or a Designated Person Ashore (DPA). 
  
  Requirements for taking this exam:
  • An approved Sea-going Service: 
    a) At least 12 months sea service onboard sea-going ship of 500 gross tonnages or more as Chief Mate. 
    b) At least 36 months sea service onboard sea-going ship of 500 gross tonnages or more in the Operational Level. 
    c) At least 36 months sea service onboard sea-going ship of 500 gross tonnages or more both in the Operational and Management Level.
  • Proof of Sea Service: 
    Several certificates and papers proving your work experience as a seamen.

Career opportunities for BSMT graduates

• Jobs for Licensed Marine Deck Officers
  • Officer-in-Charge of a Navigational Watch – this job involves responsibilities regarding avoidance of collision and grounding, as well as watchkeeping at sea.
  • Chief Mate – also called the First Mate or First Officer, a Chief Mate serves as the head of the deck department of a merchant vessel. This job involves being in charge of the ships cargo and deck crew.
  • Master Mariner – this job entails serving as the person in command of a commercial ship or vessel.
  • Merchant Marine Officer – this job entails serving as officers or ship crew whose duties include navigation, operation of engines, electronics and radio communication, as well as providing food for the ships crew.
  • Maritime Education and Training Officer – this job is like being a professor or instructor and involves training other students to become competent marine deck officers.
  • Philippine Coast Guard Officer – this involves working in the maritime security organization in the Philippines, whose role is to conduct search and rescue operations, to enforce Philippine Maritime Laws, to ensure the safety of ships and vessels, to maintain seamarks, as well as to maintain border control. Examples of positions in the Philippine Coast Guard are Seaman Second Class, Seaman First Class, Petty Officer, Senior Chief Petty Officer, Master Chief Petty Officer, and Lieutenant Senior Grade.
  • Naval Officer – this involves working at the naval warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This involves protecting the country from terrorists and sea piracy, conducting underwater reconnaissance, capturing enemy targets, as well as collecting intelligence information. Examples of positions in the Philippine Navy are Radioman, Third Class, Electricians Mate, First Class, Seaman First, Hospital Corpsman, and Gunners Mate Chief.
• Career Opportunities AbroadThere are job opportunities abroad for Filipino marine officers and seamen, however the number of positions is limited. 
• Salary LevelsSince graduates of BS in Marine Transportation can pursue different careers, the salary varies greatly. According to the International Labor Organizations (ILO) Subcommittee on Wages of Seafarers, the approved consolidated minimum wage as of December 2013 ranges from USD 1,028 3,462 per month, depending on the rank/position.

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