Pakistan Marine Academy (PMA) https://marineacademy.edu.pk/
is the only institution in the public sector in Pakistan for training of seafarers. It is also the regional branch of World Maritime University Malmo, Sweden. PMA has meritorious standing among the galaxy of the worlds elite institutions for training of Merchant Navy Officers.
Objective And Vision
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To bring cadets hailing from various parts of the country to a common level of Academic competence. To provide a sound academic foundation which will help them absorb and assimilate professional instruction with facility and teaching the fundamentals of Nautical and Marine Engineering that is essential for a successful career at sea.
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To enhance their educational standard with a reasonably broad base to enable them pursue higher studies in academic as well as professional subjects on their own.
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To provide general education that will broaden their mental horizon.
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To meet the training requirements of IMO in accordance with the STCW Convention for Merchant Navy Officers.
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To develop the qualities of leadership, management, sincerity, sense of responsibility, honor, character, pride of profession, loyalty and devotion to perform duty in service of the country.
Pakistan Marine Academy was established in Chittagong, Bangladesh in 1962. It was located on the east bank of the river Karnaphuly, facing the Bay of Bengal. It was the first institution of its kind ever established in Pakistan to train merchant marine officers. Officers and staff from Pakistan Navy and known merchant mariners, trained from the private workshops took hold of the administration of this institution. Originally, the Academy provided pre-sea training for the cadets of Nautical and Engineering Branches. First batch of 41 cadets successfully passed out from the academy in 1964.
Adm. Ahsan and Com. R.V. Khan at the 6th Passing out Parade in Chittagong 1969.
Academy continued to produce fine officers year after year until 1971 when East Pakistan took independence in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. The academy was then shifted to Karachi temporarily in the two blocks of Haji Camp and the Campus in Juldiah was renamed as Bangladesh Marine Academy. Pakistan Marine Academy suffered a lot due to lack of administration and facilities until 1976 when new campus at its current location was built.
Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan inspecting the passing out parade at Haji Camp in 1975.
Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto inaugurated the institution in a stone laying ceremony. This campus occupied an area of 136 acres and was loaded with all the desired facilities at that time. Commodore S.M. Anwar was the first commandant of this renewed institution. He filled the academy with all the lacking facilities which included 8-bed Medical Centre and engineering and nautical model rooms. In 1979 Seamen training centre was also shifted inside the Academy from Haji Camp which worked under Ministry of Communications.
In 1986 Pakistan Marine Academy was affiliated with Karachi University for award of B.Sc.(Pass) in Maritime Studies to its Marine Engineering and Nautical(Deck). In 1997 Seamen Training Centre was merged with PMA and renamed as Seamen Training Wing.
In 2002 the examination system at PMA was changed from percentage system to GPA system as per the international standards. Today Pakistan Marine Academy houses 300 undergraduates and produces 150 graduates each year. The Seamen Training Wing houses 70 General Purpose trainees and produces 140 General Purpose Crew each year. PMA also conducts the post sea IMO Model/Short Courses for seafarers.
Now in 2012 affiliation of PMA with NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi has been approved for Award of Associate Degree in Ship Management/Marine Engineering to its Nautical and Marine Engineering Cadets on successful completion of two years pre-sea training.