Pakistan Marine Academy - History

History

Pakistan Marine Academy was established in Chittagong, Bangladesh in 1962. It was located on the east bank of the Karnafuli River, facing the Bay of Bengal. It was established under Colombo Plan and began functioning from 3 September 1962. 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.

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 and was housed 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.

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. Under his tenure the Auditorium (Anwar Hall), Computer lab and mosque was inaugurated. He filled the academy with all the lacking facilities which included 8-bed hospital 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 and became a degree awarding institution. BSc. Maritime Studies in Marine Engineering and Nautical Sciences were awarded to all the graduates of this institution. In 1997 Seamen Training Centre was renamed as Seamen Training Wing and became a subordinate body of Pakistan Marine Academy. From then on they both worked under the Ministry of Ports and Shipping. In 2002 the marking system was changed from percentage system to GPA system as per the 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 and is also conducting the post sea courses for the seafarers.

In the year 2012 NED University of Engineering and Technology affiliated Pakistan Marine Academy. As per the revised regulations of Higher Education Commission Pakistan the two years BSc. degree program was replaced by two years Associate Degree program (Equivalent to Higher National Diploma) in all the universities offering bachelors degree after two years of higher studies. Hence forth NED University of Engineering and Technology was approved for the award of this associate degree in Ship Management or Marine Engineering to the Academy's Nautical and Engineering cadets respectively on successful completion of their two years training.