Job on ship a Bridge between Seafarers and Shipping Companies

Sept. 8, 2012 - PRLog -- Shipping is booming. As a result, more ships are being ordered, ships are run beyond its life cycle by converted into
other ship types instead of being scrapped. The total world fleet is increasing rapidly.

Companies are finding great difficulty in finding good quality officers who can meet with the higher standards imposed
by the industry standards through measures like Port State Control and ISM (International Safety Management) Code.

The shortage of thousands of seafarers was predicted in the 2005 BIMCO/ISF manpower study. But warnings fell on deaf ears.
Calls to recruit more cadets and spend on training were ignored. Insurers and P&I Clubs have scolded and issued stark
warnings to the industry, claiming that owners have not ‘done enough’ to alleviate growing manning problems, and that a
lack of skills will lead to an increase in accidents and claims.

The crisis we have today is a result of the short-sighted approach in the past, where companies did not provide cadet berths.
Some such companies still continue this approach even today."

The challenge to the industry, though, will be to continue recruiting seafarers continuously and many leading shipowners
are investing millions of dollars in training and recruitment. Meanwhile others are looking to set their own competence
standards and vetting procedures, as they build on the basic standards required by the International Convention on
Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

Shipping industry has too few officers and too many ratings. Now its time to upgrade the ratings, however it's not that
simple - it takes time, effort and commitment from all sides.

Asian nations are the major crew suppliers, led by India, Philippines and China, followed by Indonesia and Burma.
Vietnam has also joined the ranks and Cambodia may join in the future. Bangladesh and Pakistan have some potential
too but unfortunately are disadvantaged since 9/11," While China continues to increase the number of seafarers, this
growth will be absorbed by its domestic industry.

It is a fact that today, fewer and fewer people want, or need to go to sea. Common factors such as fatigue, stress,
low morale and alternative jobs ashore, bite more often into our labour supply.


The seagoing recruitment business has become fragmented, with too little communication between all the players, whether
individuals or companies. There is natural competition for the dwindling supply of personnel, but at present many of these
valuable human resources do not know where to turn. The whole recruitment process needs tidying up and simplifying.
We must guarantee our recruiters a supply of the very best people available from around the globe. There is so much at stake,
for individuals, owners and the entire industry, we hope our efforts, innovation and enthusiasm will act as a catalyst for
a positive future.

The shipping industry needs to shout out loud that there are great opportunities for people who go to sea. Despite bad
press, a career at sea offers good money, and wonderful opportunities.

The launch of jobonship.org (http://www.jobonship.org/) means that there is now one place where individuals can find the right jobs, and employers can
find the right seafarers. At our core we are a people broker, bringing recruiters and jobseekers from all over the world
together in a safe, secure and trusted online environment to find what they, we and the entire industry all need.