TIM eMagazine Volume 3 Issue 8 | Page 19

TIM eMagazine Vol.3 Issue 8 and institutional investors who seem to be handicapped when it comes to crew management.  As the Asia-Pacific rim continues to experience very strong, stable economic growth as well as growing trade activities within the region as well as beyond, this presents the perfect frame of mind for Zeaborn Ship Management Singapore to tap the potentials of what is the best asset of the Philippines: its well-trained, competent and quality-oriented seafarers who are amongst the most preferred by ship management corporations globally. Singh has high praises for our very own seafarers, of which he adds, comprise over three fourths of the Group’s seafaring personnel—and is expected to rise within the next few years alone following the company’s purchase of more new vessels. “Of the 2,800, 50 percent of these—half—are officers,” he proudly notes. “If there are two plus points that give Filipino seafarers an edge, these are continuous good quality training and salary expectations. The Philippines has kept a fantastic job in keeping up with training standards. We provide additional training to reach our standards, which perfectly supplement the basic training from Philippine maritime institutions; then we top it with that of Zeaborn’s. Our company is in the quest for young people who are determined, dedicated, with good intelligence and with good loyalty, and we can find these among the promising breed of Filipino seafarers. Salary expectations-wise, Singh pointed out that a lot of these ship owners do not have the so-called proverbial ‘money tree’ to keep their operations afloat; they need to make money for these ships to sail. “We have to be realistic in this aspect. The owner is on the top, and he has to maintain a lucrative operation,” he reasoned out “As these ships make money for the owner, and as their operations grow, there is also that need to hire more qualified personnel to man these vessels. In terms of salaries, we at Zeaborn pay our personnel very well and are properly compensated.”  In addition to the very high qualifications of Filipino seafarers, Joel Abutal, Fleet Competence Manager of Zeaborn Ship management also observed their very high retention rate, which equally make them very much esteemed in the profession. “We take care of our seafarers as ourselves in the past as well as for the future. Our crew is our best and biggest asset” Abutal added. We are supposed to be Number One, fully supportive in terms of ease and transaction. We do our best to invest time and money and meet them face to face in every port of call, with that highly personalized touch. Our seafarers are the core of our business and we make sure they are looked after very well. Zeaborn offers extremely competitive salaries, which are above average, plus medical and career advancement benefits.” Zeaborn, adds Abutal, equally accredits the best training for their seafarers, where they combine the best of the existing ones in Philippine maritime institutions with that of their own demanding standards. Stressed he: “Our focus is not on money, but more on the best training, which is our backbone on our competent management system.” http://zeaborn.com Heiko Nies,GF-ER Ship Management Credits : zeaborn.com Singh has high praises for our very own seafarers, of which he adds, comprise over three fourths of the Group’s seafaring personnel—and is expected to rise within the next few years alone following the company’s purchase of more new vessels. 19