MOL's new training vessel, the Spirit of MOL, welcomed its first batch of cadets earlier this month in Manila.

To celebrate the launch of the training vessel, an onboard reception was held last month with 100 guests, including Arturo Brion, the Philippines' Secretary of Labour; Alfredo Lim, the Mayor of Manila and representatives from the Philippine maritime administration and others.

The training vessel departed with about 70 Filipino and Russian trainees on board. The trainees will start an intensive education curriculum lasting three to six months. The Japanese transportation and logistics company said it plans to conduct most training voyages between the Philippines and India.

This comes as MOL, which plans to have 1,000 ships in its fleet by 2010, expands its fleet. The company offers MOL training programmes at 13 training centers around the world.