Young seafarers list ways to end global shortage of professionals

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

30 Apr 2009

YOUNG seafarers across the globe have joined the on-going campaign against criminalisation of seafarers, saying this and other issues relating to job security and the image of seafaring should be tackled if maritime careers are to be promoted. The young seafarers from different countries met in London few days ago to discuss the positive and negative aspects of making a career in the maritime industry.
Their participation in the event was facilitated by the ITF and a number of companies belonging to Intertanko and the association of independent tanker owners. The group came from seven different countries, spanning three continents and occupied positions as deck and engine officers, ratings and cadets.
During the event, the seafarers made a number of recommendations, which they were able to raise in a meeting with Efthimios Mitropoulos, secretary general of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). They proposed the establishment of an international reporting scheme to log violations of this right and drew up a 'black list' of problem countries.
They supported the IMO and industry initiatives to combat the criminalisation of seafarers involved in maritime accidents and called for the IMO/International Labour Organisation fair treatment guidelines in the event of a maritime accident to be made mandatory.
Other recommendations included: Measures to promote employment security, the need to review manning levels in the light of increased inspections and responsibilities on board and urged companies to ensure that good living and recreational facilities are provided.
Commenting on the event, Katie Higginbottom, projects and campaigns leader of the ITF's maritime operations, said: "We were very happy to collaborate with Intertanko on this initiative to allow the voice of serving seafarers to be heard. We had excellent participation from all members of the group and a very positive reception from the IMO secretary-general, Efthimios Mitropoulos. Many of the views expressed support campaigns already underway in the ITF Seafarers' Section, others we will be looking to take forward with our industry counterparts and regulators."
Their recommendations, no doubt, would assist the International Maritime Organisation to have great deal of success in its Go to Sea campaign aimed at attracting the new entrants into the seafaring carrier. The campaign being sponsored mainly by IMO and major stakeholders in the shipping industry was initiated to correct the acute shortage of manpower, especially all category of seafarers in all parts of the world.
The IMO in its "go to sea" campaign last year said the shipping industry itself holds most of the cards in reaching a solution to the shortage of seafarers. It said career at sea has to be more attractive a proposition for the youngsters than the available alternative ashore. According to the organisation, the industry would need to do more work to improve the way it is being perceived and the sociological work and life balance and the financial factors, which explains the limited attraction to a seafaring career.
"The shipping industry should take closer look at today's life styles and do more to make life away from home more akin to the life enjoyed by others ashore. This could probably be achieved through shorter duty period, long-term contracts, more frequent paid leave, social security, improved communications, including internet access, more humane treatment and many more factors, both major and minor.

Source: The Guardian