Merchant Marine Academies were established in 1998, as a continuation of the Merchant Marine Schools of Higher Education and are directed by the Ministry of Development, Competitiveness, and Shipping. The Merchant Marine Academy of Macedonia is the second in size educational institution for marine officers in Greece and the only higher educational institution in the Northern Greece. The Merchant M
arine Academy of Macedonia was established in 1973, in Nea Mihaniona, 30 km from Thessaloniki. The Academy is located in a seaside area of 40.000 square meters. The area covered by buildings is 10.000 square meters large. There are lectures halls, a lot of laboratories (electrical, electronics, machinery workshops, computer labs, diesel engines, auxiliary machinery, navigation, communication, navigation electronic equipment, etc.), also an ARPA system simulator, a GMDSS simulator, and a full ship engine simulator. Furthermore, there is a special lab for English language learning. The Academy has modern facilities for the accommodation of 350 students. The courses last for 4 years; that is 6 semesters of theoretical studies in the Academies and 2 semesters of rewarded vocational training on board ships. In this way the theoretical studies in the Academy interchange with training on board and the students are provided with high standard educational experiences and acquire specialized knowledge which corresponds to the most current technological developments. The graduates of the Academy are awarded a Certificate of Studies of Higher Education and the Diploma of the 3rd Officer of Merchant Marine. Since the establishment of the Academy, 1036 students have graduated the Department of Navigation and other 1319 the Department of Marine Engineering. During the current Academic Year, there are 230 students in all semesters of the Navigation Department and 560 students in all the semesters of the Marine Engineering Department.
