Global seafarer shortage underscores the need for more Filipino officers

by Almira Louise S. Martinez, Reporter

The Magsaysay Group of Companies said more Filipino officers in the maritime industry are needed amid the global shortage of seafarers.   

“We all know that global shipping still needs a lot of seafarers, especially for officers,” Marlon R. Roño, president and chief executive officer of Magsaysay People Resource Corporation, told reporters on Tuesday.  

 “Some are even looking at some ways how to really increase that number,” he added. 

According to Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, 25% of the global maritime workforce is Filipino, making the Philippines one of the largest suppliers of ratings and officers in merchant ships.  

Approximately 600,000 Filipino seafarers are deployed in local and global maritime industries, the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) said on its website. 

Due to the increasing demands, the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and the International Chamber of Shipping in the Seafarer Workforce Report predict an additional need for 89,510 officers by 2026 to operate the world merchant fleet.

A. Magsaysay Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Doris M. Ho noted that one of the challenges in producing more Filipino officers is the 12-month cadetship on board.

“Seafarers go for ten months, then they still need to come home, take a vacation, and then go back again,” Ms. Ho told BusinessWorld. “They need two years to complete the graduation.” 

“We can actually get more people. It’s limited by the fact that this [part] is occupied by someone for one and a half years,” she added. 

Ms. Ho said that the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) is reviewing the cadetship and plans to make three months of cadetship ashore using simulators and laboratories. 

“If we can make live-based using simulator, laboratories, and then the nine months on board then they can graduate within one year.” 

“We need more officers [in] higher levels, and the only way to do that is to solve this bottleneck,” she added.