Publisher’s Note
The Challenge: to recruit and retain
sufficient numbers of skilled seafarers
T
HE GROWING CONCERN THAT
the many of the shipping industry
now face is the ability to recruit
and retain sufficient numbers
of skilled seafarers to staff and
operate their vessels. Since 2010
when the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) declared the year –
2010 the ‘Year of the Seafarer’, five years
after - various shipping companies
still face shortage of hiring competent
and capable trained officers and men
in manning and to operates their
vessels, not only in countries with wellestablished shipping industries such
as in Europe and North America but
worldwide, according to the report.
It also said that the growth of
shipping fleets has outpaced the
supply of crews for most of the
shipping companies in Europe, North
America and other parts of the globe.
The result is these companies find it’s
necessary to recruit and seek crews
outside of their couThe Philippines
which supply more officers to the
world fleet and is consider the
top source of officers and crews
accounting to almost 34% in Europe,
4
35% in North America and in South
Africa, Middle East & Asia Pacific to
almost 30% of their requirements.
This can be attributed to the good
command of English language and the
resiliency of Filipino Seafarers to adapt
to their environments.
Similarly the Philippine Government
is committed to establish maritime
institutions, training centers and
dedicated maritime schools to provide
quality marine education. And with
this commitment the MARITME
INDUSTRY AUTHORITY (MARINA)
is tasked as the sole agency to
supervise and implement all maritime
regulations and the improvement of
Marine Educations in the country and
mandated to issue certifications and
accreditations to Maritime Schools,
Training Centers and Institutions
in compliance with the required
upgrades and improvements of their
academic curricula and facilities.
A lot of works is still to be
implemented…
PHILIP ORTALEZA