First of three parts

THE chronic inadequacy of ships that could accommodate the country's maritime students who are required to undergo cadetship training (or interchangeably onboard training) to complete a baccalaureate program has for decades remained unsolved and is not about to be sorted out in the immediate future. It is a problem known to maritime stakeholders, government, manning agencies, seafarers and maritime students and shipowners who hope to continue hiring Filipino seafarers onboard their merchant fleet; yet the answer to getting those who completed the three years of classroom lectures for a maritime higher education program to proceed to cadetship seems a long haul from where we stand.