Seafarers perform one of the toughest jobs in the world by making difficult sacrifices and putting in real hard work. As the world gradually becomes aware of the hard work mariners perform on ships, the difficult financial condition of the industry and the rapidly changing norms and regulations are forcing many seafarers to leave the field.
Seafarers perform one of the toughest jobs in the world by making difficult sacrifices and putting in real hard work. As the world gradually becomes aware of the hard work mariners perform on ships, the difficult financial condition of the industry and the rapidly changing norms and regulations are forcing many seafarers to leave the field.
Things are transforming rapidly in the industry and seafarers are overburden with several new issues. They need some change which will help them to live a better and safer life at sea, along with making them feel good and satisfied about their profession.
Mentioned below are some of the important things seafarers desperately want from the maritime industry.
1. Shorter Contract Period and Round-the-year Salary
No one wants to stay away from his or her loved ones for a long time. Being the kind of profession they are into, seafarers are forced to be away from their family for several months together. Though every seafarer eventually accepts this lifestyle, there is always a longing to meet the family as soon as possible. Many companies have come up with shorter contracts for their crew but they are still not available for all ranks and departments.When we asked seafarers about the one thing they would want to change about their industry, the first thing that most of them suggested was “shorter contracts”.
If in future this step is implemented properly, it would change the way seafarers look at their profession. Short term contracts would motivate them to go to the sea frequently and also make them more enthusiastic about their work. Commercially, it might not be a viable idea for shipping companies who have to bear a variety of expenses from flight tickets to on board food, but if a way is found to implement shorter sailing contracts, it would be one of the best steps taken for the betterment of seafarers. This step might also interest several others who are planning to join the industry but are uncomfortable with the idea of staying away from their family for several months.
Also, if there is a system wherein seafarers can go back to the ship which they have already sailed on, the amount of time spent by each to understand and adjust to the ship’s systems would be reduced. As they will be already aware of the ship they have just joined, it would relieve the seafarers of the stress they have to go through every time they join a totally new ship.
Several shipping companies also offer round-the year-salary to seafarers. This is also a great way to ensure greater job security to the seafarers who generally earn when they are on ships. Many seafarers consider the time at home “wasted” and want to earn during this “free” time as well. Round the year salary make them more secure about their jobs as they can expect salary even when they are not working at sea. As this system usually involves shorter, pre-scheduled contracts, seafarers will not have to wait for their ships for months and can also expect to get “sign-off” on time.
Though most of the points mentioned above would require a thorough overhauling of the system at the cost of additional expenses and lower profits, such system would work great in retaining professionals, who have started looking for better opportunities on shore and have already thought of quitting the sea life.
2. More Security from Pirates
Piracy at sea is a serious threat to the seafarers and the maritime industry. Millions have already been spent until now to protect seafarers from somali pirates. In spite of all the preventive measures, piracy incidents do take place frequently, posing a serious threat to the lives of seafarers.
Sailing in piracy zone area is a dangerous task and seafarers often complain that shipping companies are not transparent when declaring the routes of the assigned ships at the time of joining. Many a times the ship’s route are changed to piracy infested areas without any prior notice to the seafarers. When seafarers complain, they are threatened of getting sacked and losing their jobs. Thus, they are left with no choice but to continue sailing in such dangerous waters.
Having said that, many seafarers do not mind sailing in areas of high piracy activities, provided they are given the right kind of protection with armed security personnel and anti-piracy weapons. But unfortunately most of the ships still rely on their own systems (fire hoses, flares etc.) to protect themselves from pirates.
Considering the grave threat to the lives of seafarers around the coast of Somali, seafarers at least expect more security measures and transparency from the shipping companies.
3. Allowing Adequate Shore Leave
With the rising threat of terrorism, countries around the world are restricting seafarers to go out at ports. When the ship is at port, shore leave is the only relief for seafarers from their hectic schedules. It is the a way to break the extreme monotonous routine that is created on board from several days of continuous sailing.
The reducing loading/unloading time of cargo and increasing security measures and maintenance work at ports are not only preventing seafarers to go ashore but are also greatly affecting their mental health. Though steps are being taken to increase the facility of shore leave, seafarers often complain of months of continuous sailing without a single day of shore leave at ports. This is seriously a sad state!
Shore leave is the right of every seafarer and allowing them adequately will eventually increase the overall productivity of work on ships.
4. Solving Unemployment and the Gap between Demand and Supply
Unemployment (especially at the starting level) has marred the image of the maritime industry around the globe. Tough financial situation of the industry has forced shipping companies to cut down on their ships and number of crew members. Most of the shipping companies consider trainee engineers and cadets as liabilities and have even stopped recruiting them to cut their costs.
Job opportunities at the starting level are extremely sparse and there are specific reasons deck cadets and junior engineers are not getting jobs. The number of young professionals entering the field are increasing every year while the demand for professionals is reducing. A new maritime academy crops up every month, churning out hundreds of professional every year. These institutes are least bothered about the placements of their students and do nor understand the difference between quantity and quality of professionals. The lack of jobs has also given rise to fake job agents and employment scams in the industry. Until this ” lucrative business” is stopped, the gap between the demand and supply of professionals will keep on increasing, along with disappointment among seafarers.
It is to note that today; even those at the higher ranks have to wait for their turn to join ships. The maritime industry thus needs a some drastic changes to create more opportunities for seafarers at all levels.
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