BUZZARDS BAY, MA, ISSUED MARCH 12, 2024…Cadets participating in the summer 2023 session of the International Maritime Business Unit (IMBU) at Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA), a top-ranked public university with undergraduate degree programs focusing on science, engineering, technology, math, and business that blend academics and experiential learning, visited the Maersk main office in Rotterdam and APM Terminal (APMT) in Europort, Netherlands. APMT is an independent division of Danish shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk.
The trip was led by Capt. Ashok Pandey, Master Mariner, FICS, PhD, an Associate Professor of International Maritime Business at the Academy. It provided cadets with the opportunity to understand the intricacies of container shipping logistics and view APM terminal Maasvlakte II, the world’s most advanced fully automated container terminal.
Maersk, a global leader in offering decarbonization solutions for ships, launched the world’s first container ship “Laura Maersk,” powered by a green methanol-fuel engine, last year. The cadets witnessed an engaging presentation on decarbonization and alternative fuel plans for Maersk vessels delivered by Captain Andreas M. van der Wurff, the Port Optimisation Manager at Maersk. In its quest for green transformation in the maritime transport sector, Maersk has ordered several large methanol-enabled container vessels including the “Ane Maersk,” scheduled to be delivered in 2024-25.
“MMA’s International Maritime Business program prepares cadets for careers as business professionals serving the complex global supply chain and offers various programs for International Experiential Learning and Cultural Awareness each year,” said Capt. Pandey. “The specialized education and training provides a window to the global shipping industry and gives cadets an opportunity to understand the cultural and human story behind the international maritime industry.
“This enriching program and experience helps prepare participating cadets for what lies ahead for the maritime industry, giving them an edge in the increasingly global marketplace,” said Rear Admiral Francis X. McDonald, USMS, president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
