The NYK-TDG Maritime Academy (NTMA) is expanding its facilities with the construction of crew training facilities adjacent to the school.

The construction will be completed in 2013, allowing NYK to further expand and develop education and training for Filipino senior officers.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held recently in the presence of NYK president Yasumi Kudo and Transnational Diversified Group (TDG) founder and chairman J. Roberto Delgado.

NYK and TDG opened NTMA in 2007, prior to the establishment of any similar facility by other shipping companies for high-quality seafarers.

NYK's medium-term management plan, "More Than Shipping 2013: Grow with Asia, Expand across the Globe," emphasizes on cultivating high-quality seafarers to ensure safe operations.

NTMA plays a key role in education for seafarers who can eventually differentiate NYK's service from others with their superior skills, said NYK.

Early this year, the first class has graduated from the academy's four-year curriculum. NYK said it would leverage this opportunity to accelerate the proactive, strategic employment of Filipino officers for higher positions on all types of vessels including high-risk vessels such as very large containerships, very large crude-oil carriers (VLCCs), and LNG carriers.