Elektrans Global

SEAFARERS - Providing a yeoman’s service

The shipping industry handles over 90% of world trade. This has led to a high growth in demand for the world fleet which currently stands at over 85,000 ships of nearly 1.2billion gross tonnage. Seafarers play the most important role in the manning and operations of the world fleet. They brave the seas, encounter the harsh elements, rough weather, long durations away from home and family, put in long hours of hard work and thus provide a yeoman’s service.

A key highlight of the STCW Conference 2010 was the IMO designated, “Year of the Seafarer,” which aimed at providing the maritime community with an opportunity to pay tribute to seafarers from all over the world for their unique contribution to society and in recognition of the facilitation of global trade in a hazardous environment.

The conference further designated 25th June as the “Day of the Seafarer” Thereafter, this day is being observed every year. This year whilst observing the day of the seafarer, IMO has also encouraged young people to consider a career at sea as a viable, attractive and enticing career option. A central plank of the campaign message was that seafaring offers unique opportunities to navigate the seas of the globe and encounter the wonders of the ocean, as well as the opportunity to experience a world of real adventure and interact with people from all over the world.

IMO Secretary General Sekimizu called on active and past seafarers to inspire the next generation by sharing their experience on social media. He encouraged officials who are already engaged in this vital professional world to reach out to the new generation; share their life and work experiences; inspire and encourage them to explore for themselves a career at sea or elsewhere in the maritime industries.

Seafaring opens the door to decent work and unique and enriching experiences.  Moreover, in running today’s modern, high-tech vessels, seafarers acquire skills and technical expertise that make them very well qualified for work in many shore based industries once their sea-going days are over.

The BIMCO/ISF Manpower Update provides the most comprehensive assessment of the global supply and demand for seafarers that are currently available. In accordance with their study of 2010, they have estimated a total global supply of 1371 thousand seafarers (624,000 officers and 747,000 ratings).

The 2010 Manpower Update suggested that while the supply and demand for ratings are more or less balanced there are still some shortages for officers, particularly for certain grades and for ship types such as tankers and offshore support vessels. We are now waiting for the 2015 Manpower Update.

The current situation in India is that there is enough encouragement and a large number of educated youth are eager to take up seafaring as a career. Unfortunately, although there are enough training berths in pre-sea institutions, but not enough berths are available for on-board training thus leading to a mismatch between training and placements. We can draw a parallel with medical professionals as a candidate training to become a doctor needs to complete an internship program in a hospital in order to attain an MBBS degree. Similarly, a cadet training to become a sea going officer has to complete the requisite on board training prior to certificate of competency course and examination.

Further, there is a surplus of ratings and junior officers, and a shortage of senior officers. Thus, some mechanism needs to be developed to balance the situation.