International Journal

on Marine Navigation

and Safety of Sea Transportation

Volume 4

Number 4

December 2010

449

1 INTRODUCTION

Several studies indicate that there is currently a

world-wide shortage of officers, corresponding to 4

percent of the total officers (16,000) and the predic-

tion is that by 2012, the shortfall will rise to

46,000(Kumar, 2007).

The shortfall of seafarers has a negative impacts

on the shipping industry as a whole; whereas both

the on-board and on- shore maritime related work

posts face manning problems that may directly

threaten the existence of shipping activity and the

sustenance of maritime know- how (Chaterjee, in

Kumar, 2007).

Japanese shipping companies plan to hire 10,000

seafarers from the Philippines between 2008 and

2010. (http://www.gma.news.tv/). This was stated by

the president of the Philippine-Japan Manning Con-

sultative Council, Mr. /Eduardo Manese. He further

said that Japan will increase its merchant fleet of

2,223 as of 2006 to 3,000 by the end of 2010, and

further to 4,000 by 2015.

The same opinion was shared by Ambassador

Stale Torstein Risa of Norway during the two-day

International Maritime Conference hosted by

JBLFMU last January 29, 2008. He encouraged mar-

itime schools in the country to give importance to

quality-based maritime education and training to

meet the demands of the global shipping industry.

Risa noted that most of the world’s global trade is by

sea and that globalization has entirely changed the

world’s trading patterns with new emerging markets

requiring more transport services than ever before.

Aside from the expanding off shore exploration of

petroleum resources the cruise industry also contin-

ues to grow. This entails a growing demand for mar-

itime workers. He further stressed: “I believe

schools should even seek to follow-up and evaluate

their graduates’ employment experiences. They

should keep track of their graduates and to get feed-

backs after spending [SIC] some time at sea and it

would be a valuable input in determining if the level

of training is adequate, and even offer advice on is-

sues such as job satisfaction. ”

Indeed the maritime schools today play a very

important role in the production of quality of gradu-

ates, thus this research.

2 THE PROBLEM

This study aimed to determine the role of the mari-

time schools in helping to solve the problem of sea-

farers’ shortage.

3 METHOD

This study utilized the descriptive-qualitative meth-

od of research. It employed a historical - narrative

approach, using an in-depth interview of the key in-

formants. The participants in this study were the

managers of the manning companies and the various

representatives of the owners of the shipping com-

panies in the Philippines.

3.1 Modes of analysis

“The schools are the producers of seafarers.” These

are the words coming from the lady president of K-

Line Maritime Training Center, Mrs. Virginia Line-

sis. She also stated further: “The competencies of the

The Role of the Maritime Institutions on the

Shortage of Officers

M. Magramo, L. Bernas, J. Calambuhay & G. Eler

John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, Iloilo City, Philippines

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to determine the role of the maritime institutions in the midst of the shortage

of officers in the world manning industry. The quality of instruction and the competency of the professional

instructors are seen as an important factor in producing quality graduates who will eventually become officers

to man modern ships of today.

450

new graduates are always questioned. One of the is-

sues is the competency of the teachers. These teach-

ers have not recently disembarked from the vessel.

So, their knowledge and skills as far as new vessels

are concerned are not adequate to teach these stu-

dents. Teachers are not updated. The competency of

the supply at the end of the three (3) academic years

of the students is always questioned by the industry.

For a company like K-Line with a training center,

we augment whatever inadequacy in the skills of the

students by giving them the training necessarily re-

quired in the type of vessel they will be joining. As

far as this company is concerned, we don’t assign

any anybody on board unless he is trained and ready

for the job because the confidence of the seafarers

even if he is just a cadet is important when he goes

on board. He should be able to know the job re-

quired of him. And to those with no training center,

that would be a very great factor.

She added: “The problem before was always the

engine shortage on the engine department. At this

point, this is gradually addressed by the school.

There must be a balance. The reason for this is that

there is a need of a ‘bridging program’, in order to

augment the shortage of the supply in the engine de-

partment especially the engine officers. K-Line is

the first company to initiate or introduce the bridg-

ing program (mechanical engineering to marine en-

gineering) because [SIC] we are now in the third

year. In 2005, we had the first batch of 18 marine of-

ficers.”

Before putting up the training center, Global

Training Systems, Inc., of which he is president,

Capt. Jose Martinez, a research master mariner, had

this to say:

“The instructors are the sole instruments on the

education of the students. It is from them that the

students hear everyday. In [SIC] everything that they

do they must do it well and learn to love it. If they

love what they are doing, everybody they shared

with [SIC] will also love what you are doing. They

have to inspire the students; always give their best in

teaching. The English language is very important

because this is needed in the profession. Even when

students are good in doing the job it is necessary to

explain the what, how and why it needs to be done.

If you cannot express yourself in English, then it

might lead to serious consequences. But if you are

conversant in the language then you have an edge.”

Mrs. Brenda Panganiban had this to say: “I be-

lieve that your school has some qualifying examina-

tion. I think that your school should also administer

an aptitude test for the marine profession so that you

will be able to determine who among the current

students are fit to continue in the course. Maybe it

can be done after one year, after taking a general

course just like in the nursing or medical profession.

[SIC]The minds of the students in the higher level

now who passed the aptitude test must be condi-

tioned that they are educated and trained to become

officers. [SIC] They should be guided in the way

they talk; act, and interact with people. The charac-

ter, the attitude and the whole personality must be

developed. In school it must be emphasized that to

become an officer you maintain humility regardless

of how far you have gone or become. It is also im-

portant to develop the spirituality of the students be-

cause when your spirit is strong, your mind and

body will be strong as well.

Mr. Ericson Marquez, President of Pilipinas

Crown Maritime said: “The source of knowledge

will be the schools. But if you continue to produce

less and less competent graduates, then 20% are only

qualified. Then, ‘wala tayong pupuntahan talaga’

(we are going nowhere). What is our response? Last

year, we did an assessment (MSAP-Maritime

Schools Assessment Program). We know which

schools can produce how much. We know some

school cannot even produce a single applicant to

pass our standard. Our standard is not very high. We

use criterion reference in establishing the standard.

Last year we had a pilot test on this activity. This

[SIC] February1 and 2, we expect that CHED will

issue a memorandum for all the schools to partici-

pate. Last year JBLFMU did not participate for you

had an activity on that day. [SIC] We hope this year

you will participate, not that we doubt the quality of

your students but we are using the better schools as

the benchmark for other schools. Last time we used

MAAP as our benchmark, MAAP participated.

[SIC] The ninety-four students of MAAP were all on

top, only 1 or 2 were not in the top 100. You can im-

agine how many percent it is as against 56 scholars

who participated.”

He also narrated: “Last year, we did not promise

any incentive for those who performed well, but this

year we will. We have already obtained 200 scholar-

ships from OWWA at Php 30,000 each scholar. So,

its [SIC] 30,000 each for 100 deck cadets and 100

engine cadets. The grant will be given on their third

year. This money will not be paid to them. They

cannot be a grantee if they are not a relative of a

seaman or they have contributed to the fund. Our

agreement is to get the 200 scholars and will [SIC]

pay the contribution. Later, the OWWA will refund

us. This is open to everybody except for MAAP,

PMMA and NSA cadets. This Php 30,000 grant will

be added with incentives because we were able to

convince Japanese ship owners. We are telling the

schools, on the basis of the assessment as endorsed

by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

they can prepare a program to prepare them as rat-

ings instead of an officer. They must be taught cook-

ing, ship painting, ship maintenance and welding

451

and make them the best ratings that we can produce

because we need ratings. [SIC]”

He also said “We are not criticizing the schools;

the problem is not only in the collegiate level. It

starts from the elementary schools and high schools.

If somebody from high school cannot add fractions,

there must be something wrong. But some of these

schools will still accept them as freshmen in college.

Now, how can they run ships if they don’t know

how to add fractions or solve for the volume of an

object? This is what we are pushing, but certainly

some schools may not like it. This is what is happen-

ing and everybody must wake up. We are trying to

unify our efforts in the four organizations in the

manning and crewing industry. Maybe it’s now time

that the maritime schools join [SIC] hands in solving

the problem of the deficiencies of the graduates in

order to help solve the problem on seafarer short-

age.”

Mrs. Carla S. Limcaoco, the vice-chairman of

Philippine Transmarine Carriers had this to say to

the maritime schools: “Look at the curriculum. Look

at the issue of its relevance in today’s world. There

are certain subjects that are non-negotiable that stu-

dents have to study. But are they relevant?

4 FINDINGS

1 There are schools which produce graduates that

do not necessarily meet the requirements of the

industry. Hence, there is a need to improve on the

quality of instruction especially on the profes-

sional subjects. Most of the professional instruc-

tors are not updated on the latest technology on

board and as such, the instructors’ delivery is

short- changed.

2 There are aspects of the curriculum which are not

relevant to the present needs of the industry espe-

cially with the fast changing phase of technology

development.

3 There are youngsters today who prefer other

courses that are equally financially rewarding as

seafaring.

4 The school should motivate the students to be-

come officers not just be contented as ratings.

5 RECOMMENDATIONS

1 The schools should intensify the supervision of

instruction among the professional instructors.

2 The schools need to review their curriculum es-

pecially its relevance to the current needs of the

industry.

3 The schools should be more selective with the

new entrants in the course or program.

4 An aptitude test must be implemented to the se-

cond year level to determine if the students are

fitted to be seafarers.

5 A continuing evaluation program should be initi-

ated among the students to ensure that quality

learning is achieved.

REFERENCES

Aldanese, Vicente F. “The Impact of increasing challenges

within manning and training”, A paper delivered at the 8

Asia-Pacific Manning and Training Conference, November 14-

15, 2007, Manila: Philippines).

http:www.marisec.org/shippingfacts/worldtrade/top-20-

largest-shipping flags

Kumar, Sajeev V. (“Shortage of seafarers takes wind off mari-

time activities” The Hindu Business Line, April 5, 2007).

Marques, Ericson M. (“Joining Hands to Meet Global Demand

for Filipino Seafarers through a Committed Partnership”, A

paper delivered at the 8

Asia-Pacific Manning and Train-

ing Conference, November 14-15, 2007, Manila: Philip-

pines).

Skei, Odd Magne, (“The Growing Shortage of Qualified Offic-

ers”, A paper delivered at the 8

Asia-Pacific Manning and

Training Conference, November 14-15, 2007, Manila: Phil-

ippines).

Suri, Satish (“A synopsis of current manning situation, strate-

gic directions and emerging markets as a solution to wors-

ening officers shortage”, A paper delivered at the 8

Asia-

Pacific Manning and Training Conference, November 14-

15, 2007, Manila: Philippines).

Xin Dingding, Sailor Shortage in Growing Industry; China

Daily, Apr.20, 2006.