From Classroom to Engine Room: Duke Tion’s Final Months as a Cadet
04-09-2026
5-minute read
With graduation just weeks away and final exams on the horizon, our Inmarsat Cares sponsored cadet Duke Tion shares updates from his training ship experience, his academic progress, and the growing anticipation of stepping on board a vessel for the first time as an engineer.
Since we last caught up with Duke Tion, our Inmarsat Cares sponsored cadet has been busier than ever.
With final exams approaching in April, graduation set for May, and a shipping company opportunity on the horizon, Duke is entering the most exciting and demanding chapter of his maritime education at John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University in Iloilo.
Stepping On Board: Life on the Training Ship
One of the biggest milestones for Duke this term has been spending three days and two nights on board the John B Lacson Foundation Maritime University training vessel. For an aspiring engineer, this was a chance to move beyond textbooks and get hands on with the real machinery and systems that keep a ship running.
Duke said: “The training officers taught us several things that an engineer does, like how to start an emergency generator, what a sewage tank looks like, and how to properly release a rescue boat on board. They also showed us the engine logbook. It was my first time seeing what an engine logbook actually looks like”
While the vessel was unable to sail on this occasion due to a technical issue with the propulsion system, Duke and his classmates made the most of the time on board. For Duke, simply being in a working engine room environment and learning from experienced training officers brought his studies to life in a way the classroom alone cannot.
Midterms Done, Finals Ahead
Back on land, Duke has just completed his midterm examinations and is now preparing for finals, which are scheduled for April. He remains on track to graduate on 11 May 2026, a date he and his family are counting down to. Duke’s scholarship at John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University requires him to maintain a general weighted average of 85 or above, and he is working hard to meet that benchmark across all of his remaining subjects.He is also juggling a full schedule of seminars and additional training requirements alongside his academic commitments.
Duke and his classmates during their training ship experience at John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University
A Shipping Company on the Horizon
Perhaps the most significant development since our last update is that Duke now has a cadet engineering opportunity lined up with a shipping company in the Philippines. After graduation, he will need to prepare his documentation, including his passport, Seafarer’s Identification Document (SID), and Seafarer’s Registration Book (SRB), and travel to Manila
to begin the next stage of the process.
For Duke, this is the clearest signal yet that his years of study are about to translate into a real career at sea. The exact timing will depend on the company, but the pathway from classroom to engine room is becoming very real
A Family Reunion and a Role Model’s Return
There was also some welcome news on the home front. Duke’s uncle, the chief engineer who first inspired him to pursue a seafaring career, returned home after completing a six month contract at sea. As regular readers of Duke’s story will remember, his uncle stepped into a fatherly role after Duke’s father left the family, and the two share a close bond. Having his uncle home again has given Duke a renewed sense of motivation heading into his final stretch of studies.
What’s Next for Duke
With final exams in April, graduation in May, and a company placement to prepare for, the coming weeks will be a defining period for Duke. We’ll continue to follow his journey as he takes the final steps from cadet to seafarer, and from the classroom into the engine room. Stay tuned for our next update, when we’ll hear how Duke’s exams went and what comes next on his path to becoming a marine engineer.
Follow Dukes journey