Reaffirming a steadfast academic alliance, South Korea’s Mokpo Maritime University (MMU) and Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) – College of Maritime Education (CME) marked another milestone in their partnership as MMU’s premier training vessel, the T/S Sae Nuri, anchored at the Port of Manila on 15 May 2025.
The Sae Nuri, one of the largest and most technologically advanced training ships in South Korea, served as the venue for a diplomatic and educational exchange between the two maritime institutions. On board were Dr. Francis Jay Dela Cruz, Dean of OLFU’s CME; 2/E Mark Anthony Ramos, OBT Supervisor; and Razel Reyes, Technical Assistant from the Center for Professional Development and Academic Partnership (CPDAP). The OLFU delegation was joined by selected cadets who were given an exclusive tour of the ship, designed to provide immersive experiences for MMU’s maritime students.
The Sae Nuri is a state-of-the-art automated training vessel equipped with cutting-edge technologies that support practical, on-board instruction. These include a satellite positioning system, a hull motion monitoring device, an Automatic Identification System (AIS), and a Voyage Data Recorder (VDR).
The ship also features an environmental control system designed to prevent marine pollution, three 660KW-class generators, and a wide array of educational amenities such as classrooms, multimedia rooms, and rest areas. At present, the vessel accommodates around 140 individuals—including ship crew, personnel from MMU’s Division of Cadet Training, and student cadets—who travel across the region as part of their academic and maritime voyage.
This academic engagement also brought about a meaningful reunion between OLFU leaders and two of their cadets, Bryden Amar and Ryan Kerby Acibar, who are currently undergoing intensive maritime training aboard the Sae Nuri as part of the student exchange program established between MMU and OLFU.
In a reciprocal show of camaraderie on the same day, OLFU welcomed members of MMU’s Division of Cadet Training—led by Dean Dr. Kim Chuhyong and joined by Professors Dr. Kim Hongryeol, Dr. Oh Seungjin, Dr. Oh Malgeun, and Dr. Lee Lina—to its flagship campus in Valenzuela City.
The South Korean delegation was warmly received at the OLFU RISE Tower and toured the University’s world-class academic and simulation facilities, with particular focus on those housed under the College of Maritime Education.
This active commitment not only underscores the ongoing success of the OLFU-MMU partnership but also exemplifies both institutions’ shared dedication to excellence in maritime education, international collaboration, and the holistic development of future maritime professionals.
Story by Raymond Lumagsao
