OFFICER SHORTAGE

SHIPOWNERS AND MANAGERS HAVE RELIED ON THE PHILIPPINES AS THEWORLD’S LARGEST SUPPLIER OF SEAFARERS TO THE MERCHANT MARINE FLEET FOR MANY YEARS BY BANKING ON THEIR COMPETENCE AND SOME DEGREE OF LOYALTY,

But the current shortage of officers being experienced by the shipping industry is forcing the Philippines to take an initiative in search of quality if it wants to retain its leading position in the maritime labour market. To achieve this goal the industry has to dig down to the root cause of the problem, which is education. The recent ISF-Bimco study estimated that there is a shortage of 10,000 officers. Though the Philippines surplus of ratings and junior officers, the shortage of senior officers will act as an incentive for promotion. The question today is how the industry can turn up the surplus of ratings and junior officers to higher ranks, Adonis Donato, the president of Masters and Mates Association of the Philippines. Because of the situation, Donato says some ship management firms have been forced to turn down crew management offers because they cannot provide the senior officers needed to man new tonnage. “An opportunity lost,” revealing that some managers “have been feeling the pinch” as a consequence. It is estimated that 70,000 Filipino merchant marine officers are working in deck and engine positions onboard various foreign flagged vessels. With a total deployment of 248,055 seafarers last year, the number of officers has still to catch up with ratings to fill the demand.