01 / CADETS
Cadets & Students
Prepare for your first assignment and learn what’s expected of you onboard.
Free through December 2026
Maritime mentorship for Filipino seafarers
Developing Tomorrow’s
Maritime Leaders.
Learn from real shipboard experience. Build the judgment, discipline, and confidence to take on your next responsibility at sea.
Explore mentorship tracks REAL EXPERIENCE. PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE. FUTURE LEADERS.
01 / Mentorship tracks & fees
Find your next step.
Choose the track that matches your rank or the responsibility you’re preparing for.
02 / JUNIOR OFFICERS
Junior Officers
Build confidence in watchkeeping, communication, and everyday decisions at sea.
Free through December 2026
02 / About the program
Built on experience
at sea.
Captain Pierre HangadMerchant Navy CaptainOur mission
To empower Filipino seafarers through practical maritime education, real shipboard experience, professional mentorship, and leadership development. We aim to develop competent, disciplined, and confident seafarers who are ready for the responsibilities of their next rank.
We help new and inexperienced seafarers understand modern shipping practices and shipboard culture, from working with multicultural crews to speaking up about safety. We emphasize the mindset and attitude expected onboard: take responsibility, treat others with respect, ask questions when unsure, and stay open to feedback.
We help seafarers prepare for promotion interviews by practicing technical and leadership questions and showing how to use real examples from their shipboard experience to demonstrate readiness for the next rank.
Our vision
To build a trusted maritime mentorship program that helps Filipino cadets join their first ship prepared, supports junior officers as they grow into confident and responsible leaders, and gives experienced seafarers a way to pass on what they’ve learned to the next generation.
03 / Meet your mentor
Captain Pierre Hangad
Merchant Navy Captain & Program Mentor
Captain Pierre Hangad took command at 29. Drawing on his experience commanding bulk carriers, he helps Filipino cadets and junior officers prepare for the decisions and responsibilities they’ll face at sea.
His mentorship focuses on everyday shipboard situations, from handing over a watch and speaking up about safety concerns to giving clear, respectful feedback as a leader.
Explore the mentorship tracksCareer achievements
Career timeline
- Age 20Third Officer
- Age 23Second Officer
- Age 25Chief Officer
- Age 29CaptainFirst command
Master Mariner license at 25
Earned his Master Mariner license at age 25.
Command at 29
Promoted from Chief Officer to Master in January 2024 and took command of a bulk carrier trading worldwide.
Columbia Group distinctions
Recognized as the youngest Master in Columbia Group, which manages approximately 500 vessels across multiple ship types, and ranked as its best-performing bulk carrier Captain.
Leadership recognition
Received an award and letter of appreciation from Columbia Shipmanagement for leadership and performance as Master.
U.S. Coast Guard recognition
Received promotion recommendations from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2016 and 2018 for exceptional performance during port State control (PSC) inspections.
Shore-based promotion
Awarded a shore-based promotion by the company’s Designated Person Ashore (DPA), an Italian Master, for exceptional performance during a PSC inspection and an external audit in Australia.
Academic honors
Graduated cum laude from the University of Cebu–METC in 2015 as an IMEC scholar. Ranked second in the deck department of Batch Sirius and made the Dean’s List all four years.
Published navigation guide
Authored a guide to navigating the shallow waters of Caojing, China, covering the passage from the pilot station to the berth.
04 / Who it’s for
Who can benefit
- Maritime students and graduating cadets
- Newly employed deck and engine cadets
- Junior deck officers and engineering officers
- Officers preparing for promotion
- Filipino seafarers seeking professional development
05 / Appointments
Book a mentorship session
Book an appointment and grab the opportunity to receive free maritime mentorship from Captain Pierre through December 2026.
- Send an appointment request. Contact Captain Pierre through one of the channels listed here.
- Share your availability. Include your name, mentorship track, the topic you’d like to discuss, and two or three preferred dates and times with your time zone.
- Confirm your schedule. Captain Pierre will reply with available times. Your appointment is booked once you both agree on a time.
Contact Captain Pierre
- Phone
- +63 927 436 3263
- pjeshangad@gmail.com
- Facebook and Messenger
- Search for Captain Pierre Hangad
- TikTok
- Search for Captain Pierre Hangad