A top executive of MAERSK Line, the largest container shipping firm in the world, lauded the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) for its exemplary standard in maritime education, thus producing quality merchant marine officers in the Asia-Pacific region.

In her commencement keynote speech at the graduation of MAAP dual class of Dec. 15, 2011 at the state-of-the-art, 108-hectare MAAP campuse here, MAERSK Line crewing operations general manager Marie Patricia Cooper said: "This Academy is one of the 'best' sources of deck officers and engineers in the region," as she expressed optimism the graduates can contribute in the operations and development of the maritime sector."

She congratulated not only the 47 members of the graduating class for completing the dual Bachelor of Science degree for Marine Transportation and Engineering (BSMTE), but especially the Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) that runs MAAP under Chairman-President Dr. Condrado F. Oca, and the MAAP headed by its President Vice Admiral Eduardo Ma. R. Santos (AFP, ret.), a former chief of the Philippine Navy and vice chief of staff of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).