Industry faces acute manpower shortage
By SHARIDAN M. ALI


THE shipping industry is forecast to face an acute shortage of manpower if appropriate measures are not taken to produce well-trained and experienced seafarers.

“Unfortunately, the majority of industry players do not seem to be addressing the problem, and the current deficit of about 10,000 seafarers can increase to unprecedented levels in the next couple of years,” Malaysian Shipowners Association (MASA) chairman of Nordin Mat Yusoff said in an interview.

The worldwide number of seafarers is estimated at about 1.2 million currently.

The crew shortage is apparent in relation to the number of ships currently on order, totalling 8,000 vessels, with deliveries averaging 2,000 ships annually over the next three years.

Nordin, who is also vice-president (fleet) of MISC Bhd, said a staggering 20,000 new crew members, from junior officers to master mariners (at an average of 15 crew members per ship), would be needed be to meet the demand of new ships deployed every year.
Nordin Mat Yusoff

“And the number of seamen needed can be potentially more if attrition from those currently employed is also taken into account,” he said.

He said it would take more than eight to nine years to produce a well-trained ship captain while a new ship could be designed and delivered in less than two years.

“Given the current rate of growth of the shipping industry, there is no easy solution for the crewing crisis that will affect the industry in the next couple of years.

“The issue of how to solve the problem is becoming a subject of debate worldwide, and Asia being the global supplier of seafarers must be the leader in discussing the matter to help avert a potential crisis that could envelop the entire industry with dire consequences,” he said.

Nordin stressed that the temptation to take any shortcut to fulfil the standards in training and certification in meeting the shortages of seafarers should be avoided at all costs.

“It is hoped that more shipping companies in Malaysia will take the initiative in sponsoring students for maritime cadetship programmes. The least assistance the companies can offer is to provide berthing time for the students on board their ships,” he said.

Berthing time is a compulsory on-the-job training for seafaring students to complete their studies.

He added that currently, only a handful of Malaysian shipping companies participated in cadet sponsorship programmes and provided berthing time.

“We feel there is also a need to explore to what extent governments will be able to play a role in helping the industry overcome the issue of supply of seafarers.

“It will be worth the while to look into governmental policy on the training of seafarers apart from the expanded role needed from the industry, which has always taken the responsibility in meeting its own needs,” he said.

Nordin said it was also time the industry took serious note of the need for quality culture in shipping management.

“Quality management will ultimately determine the future economic viability and there is an overriding need to ensure a safety and quality culture involving the crewing of ships,” he said.

He pointed out that one of the biggest challenges facing the marine insurance industry was the human element, namely the quality of crewing and seafarers.

“The marine insurance industry has estimated that about 80% of the claims it handled are attributed to what is called human error arising from a number of factors,” Nordin said, adding the extent of the prevailing claims had direct impact on the cost of shipping.

“MASA hopes to bring up the issue of the shortage of seafarers for discussion at the 5th Asia Maritime & Logistics Conference 2008, so the industry collectively comes up with solutions.

“About 400 participants from the global shipping industry are expected to attend the conference,” he said.

MASA, which is organising the conference to be held on June 24 and 25 in Kuala Lumpur, has included discussions which will look at crewing issues, especially in the context of the new rules and regulations impacting seafaring and the impending new Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 of the International Labour Organisation.

Sometimes called the “super convention”, the new Maritime Labour Convention is expected to enter into force in 2010 with governments, ship owners and seafarers agreeing on comprehensive international requirements for seafarers’ working and living conditions and to promote quality shipping in the rapidly growing maritime sector.

The conference will include 17 presentations, a panel discussion on the state of shipping and a luncheon address by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on geopolitical developments impacting trade and shipping in Asia.

At least three of the presentations - a review of the new Maritime Labour Convention and related training and manning issues, impact of new rules and regulations, and how the technical management of the tankers is impacted by standards of crewing – will be discussed.

“Since this conference will be attended by a cross-section of decision-makers from the worldwide maritime industry, I have no doubt that participants will get to hear some fresh ideas and views that the industry needs urgently in addressing its concerns,” he said.

A maritime exhibition of about 100 exhibitors from all over the world will also be held in conjunction with the conference at the KLCC Convention Centre.

MASA currently represents about 12 million deadweight tonnes, more than 85% of Malaysia’s merchant fleet tonnage.