Institution Profile

Background

The Malaysian Maritime Academy, or better known as ALAM, is a maritime training academy in Malaysia. The academy and training centre are located on a 30-hectare campus in Kuala Sungai Baru, Melaka, overlooking the busy Straits of Malacca. In 1976, Maritime Training and Education for Seamen (MATES) was established to offer specialised training for seagoing personnel. Five years later, MATES achieved academy status and was named Akademi Laut Malaysia (ALAM). In 1997, ALAM was privatised and renamed Malaysian Maritime Academy. Today, ALAM is fully owned by MISC Berhad.

Why choose to study at ALAM for a career as a seafarer

If you have always wanted a seafaring career, ALAM offers systematic training and a well-rounded education that will help you further your maritime career. Not only will you attend full-time classroom-based training as well as practical sessions conducted by an experienced faculty, you will be part of a shared community that inspires lifelong networks and a continuous learning journey. ALAM’s curriculum is perceptive to the rigour of the industry and its maritime training facility designed with a difference to shape the next generation of maritime leaders.

At ALAM, students will not have to worry about getting a job after they graduate. ALAM works closely with shipping companies in Malaysia and around the globe for pre-employment arrangement for their students. Students typically continue working for shipping companies after their studies.

Why a seafaring career?

• good pay
• opportunities to travel and see the world
• good long-term prospects

Courses offered

Currently, ALAM offers two diploma programmes:

• Diploma in Nautical Studies
• Diploma in Marine Engineering

Diploma programmes typically take 3 years 3 months to complete—students study for 2 years at the ALAM campus and spend one year doing sea service.

In the first year of the diploma programme, students have to take mandatory Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) courses comprising Basic Safety Training, Ship Security Awareness, and Basic Oil/ Chemical/ LG Training on top of their diploma syllabus.

In the second year, the mandatory STCW courses are Medical First Aid, Advanced Fire Fighting, GMDSS (GOC), Radar Observer, ARPA Operation, Electronic Navigation Aids, Proficiency in Survival Craft, Designated Securities Duties and Leadership and Teamwork Skills. Students must complete these STCW courses before they can do their one-year sea service (final year).

After 12 months of sea service, ALAM will award the students with a diploma and the Ministry of Transport will issue them with a seaman license or a Certificate of Competency Class 3 (COC) which is recognised worldwide for a seafaring career. Graduates are then qualified to be a watchkeeping officer or watchkeeping engineer officer depending on their qualification.

In addition to diploma programmes, ALAM also offers these 24-week courses:

• Deck Rating course
• Engine Rating course

Funding opportunities and cadet sponsorship

Students who want to enrol at ALAM can explore financial aid options with MISC (Eaglestar), PTPTN and JPA. Every year, cadet scholarships are readily available to eligible and deserving students.

Facilities

The ALAM campus combines the learning experience with a healthy and active lifestyle for its students and staff. The campus provides a safe environment with recreational and sports facilities that includes playing fields or courts for football, netball, volleyball, takraw, badminton and tennis. In addition, there is a swimming pool and a Seamanship Centre which provides equipment like dragon boats, canoes and laser boats. Its cafeteria provides tasty and balanced selections.

The campus is Wi-Fi enabled and equipped with 42 classrooms, and laboratories that help students develop the capabilities and skills they need on board a ship or back at shore. ALAM also boasts a range of workshops that include: a steam power plant, diesel power plant, plant maintenance workshop, bench fitting and machining workshop, seamanship workshop, welding workshop, electrical and electronic lab, control lab, material testing lab and sectional models of machineries.

ALAM’s Maritime Simulation and Communication Centre consists of a Full Mission Ship-handling Simulator, Full Mission Engine Room Simulator, Liquid Cargo Operations Simulator and Distributed Control System Simulator. The Simulators are installed with state-of-the-art software that provides high fidelity environmental effects and hydrodynamic effects and thus providing a realistic marine environment.

Accommodation

The accommodation on campus include Residence Halls and Premier Residences.

Residence Halls are made up of:

• Atlantic: 56 rooms
• Pacific: 84 rooms
• Mediterranean – 15 apartments
• Artic – 13 rooms
• Adriatic – 4 rooms

Premier Residences include:

• Atlantic II – 48 rooms
• Villa – 14 units

Courses Offered

Click on a programme name for full details.

Contact Details

Key Personnel

Mr. David Fredrick Chief Executive Officer , Akademi Laut Malaysia (ALAM) Mr. David Fredrick is a Chief Marine Engineer by profession with 10 years' of sailing experience. He has been in a shipowner/operator company, MISC Berhad for the last 18 years holding various positions e.g. Superintendent, Fleet Manager and Senior Manager and Business Process Improvement and Capability Building in Fleet Management. The last post he held was General Manager of Human Resource Management (Sea) managing a pool of over 3000 seafarers. He also headed the Emergency Response Team for crisis management and also the Company Security Officer (CSO) whilst in service with MISC Berhad. Presently, he is the Chief Executive Officer of Akademi laut Malaysia (ALAM), a post he has held since 1 October 2010. He was also conferred Honorary Commander of the Naval Reservist Unit. Under his leadership, ALAM has achieved tremendous success in realising its vision to become a world class MET institution. Establish links with reputable MET institutions Placed ALAM in the world map for MET Upgraded the facilities at ALAM Restructured the organisation to better focus on the core business Became the first private institution of higher learning in Malaysia to set up the Royal Malaysian Navy Reservist Unit Increased the sponsorship from local agencies to cater for the ever growing demands locally in the shipping fraternity Maintained amongst the top 10% of the world's MET institutions to offer maritime related training with world class educational and training standard (DNV annual benchmarking exercise) Achieved international recognition such as the Maritime Trainer of the Year (2010) Award by Sailor Today, Lloyd's List Asia Award 2010 winner for Best in Training and Crewing and finalist for the Seatrade Asia Award 2010 for Education and Training.