Thursday, January 31, 2008
3 major overseas ships need 15T Filipino seafarers (1:33 p.m.)
MANILA -- About 15,000 Filipino seafarers will be needed this year by major ship owners overseas to fill in the vacuum in various shipping fleets, a Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) official said.
POEA administrator Rosalinda Baldoz said they have recently met with Italian Cruise operators who already expressed interest to hire about 1,600 Filipino seamen this year.
"The Italian cruise operators are expanding and they are looking at hiring 1,600 seafarers this year," Baldoz said.
"Norwegian ship owners, on the other hand will need 3,000 officers and ratings also for their fleet expansion," she added.
But she said the Japanese shipping firms has the largest requirement and is intending to hire seamen from the Philippines.
"Japanese ship owners intends to source 8,000 out of 10,000 new requirements for seafarers, onboard Japanese owned vessels," she said.
According to Baldoz, the Maritime Training Council (MTC), an attached agency of POEA is now studying possible options and strategies for the country to be able to supply the demand of the three countries.
It is earlier projected that in the next two years there will be shortage in officers globally and the foreign ship owners are looking at the Philippines to source these needed officers. (MSN/Sunnex) |
