The Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), the pioneer institution in maritime education in the country is supported by government funds with help from the shipping industry. It is the proud mother of the finest Filipino merchant marine officers. For many years, it has produced many master mariners, chief engineers, shipping executives, naval officers, excellent educators and trainors now serving in marine and maritime related industries in their country and abroad.
Originally named "Escuela Nautica de Manila", created by virtue of a Spanish Royal decree issued on January 1, 1820, the school was inaugurated on April 5 of the same year. It was initially located at Calle Cabildo, Intramuros, Manila until 1863. It was renamed as the Philippine Nautical School (PNS) during the American occupation. In 1963, Republic Act 3680 converted it into the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy. It began offering maritime programs leading towards a B.S. degree in Marine Transportation and B.S. degree in Marine Engineering. Since 1996, PMMA has been offering master’s degree programs namely Master in Shipping Management and Master in Maritime Education and Training.
The Academy has been over different locations through the years. From Intramuros, Manila to the site of the DFA along Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, to a seven-hectare lot in Fort Bonifacio. Now presently resting on a sixty-hectare land at the former American Radar Base in San Narciso, Zambales, the PMMA continues to uphold its mission of producing competent and qualified merchant marine officers that are honored and respected in the sea-lanes of the world.
Mission:
To educate and train midshipmen / women to become:
Qualified and competent merchant marine officers for shipboard and shore-based positions, in response to the global requirements of the expanding international maritime industry;
Competent and capable naval officers who can serve as naval and military auxiliaries in times of war and national emergencies; and
Contributor to the improvement of maritime education and the pool of ship business managers through graduate school programs.
Vision:
The Philippine Merchant Marine Academy envisions through its academic programs and quasi-military training to produce a balanced personality out of every graduate, i.e an internationally acceptable officer and gentleman who can function efficiently in their field of endeavor and contribute to the development and progress of the Filipino nation.
