TIM eMagazine Issue 7 | Page 15

TIM TIMeMagazine eMagazineVol.1 Vol.1Issue Issue 75 Deployment of seafarers continues to climb – POEA I n recent development, POEA noted that hiring of Filipino seafarers continues to rise. The latest official figures was released by Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) o seafarer deployment showed sustained a strong demand for Filipino seafarers. The fears were unfounded. There was no slowdown in the number of sea-based workers that left the country in 2015, contrary to earlier expectations of some quarters in the industry that the current crisis in the offshore industry, the worst to hit the business sector, as well as in the dry cargo market as indicated by the burgeoning number of laid-up vessels. These botched to even make a dent in the deployment of sea-based workers as the final figures, which came in only last month, showed the rise in the demand. The Philippines again breached the 400,000 level as it sent a total of 406,531 sea-based worker last year, a further climb from 401,826 the previous year. The increase however slim explained for the continued albeit slight in remittances to $5.79 billion in 2015 from $5.50 billion in 2014. When it comes to marine officers, deck & engine departments combined, remained basically the same at 93,992 in 2015 from 93868 the previous year, 2014. It’s the number of ratings that had marked a drop, there were 148,283 ratings deployed abroad last year from 154,963 ratings in 2014. While the gain in the cruise industry had significant increased. The total of non-maritime workers dispatched overseas last year jumped to 161,480 in 2015 from 151,402 in 2014. These were mostly assigned to food and catering, food & beverage, and housekeeping and hotel departments. The Philippines again breached the 400,000 level as it sent a total of 406,531 sea-based worker last year, a further climb from 401,826 the previous year. 15