Wednesday, November 19, 2008

IMO Launches the "Go to Sea!" Campaign

A campaign to address the global shortage of seafarers, which threatens the very future of the international shipping industry, has been launched by the International Maritime Organization.

The campaign was in association with the International Labour Organization, the "Round Table" of shipping organizations - BIMCO, ICS/ISF, Intercargo and Intertanko - and the International Transport Workers' Federation. The campaign calls on governments, industry and IMO, supported by ILO and other international organizations, to take specific actions, within their areas of influence, to increase the recruitment of seafarers to tackle the problem. A recent report issued by maritime industry analysts Drewry Shipping Consultants assessed the current shortfall of officers in the global shipping fleet to be some 34,000, against a total requirement of 498,000. Moreover, based on Drewry's fleet growth projections, and the assumption that officer supply will only increase at the current rate, the report predicts that, by 2012, the officer shortfall will have grown to 83,900. The shipping industry can provide the basis for a fulfilling and satisfying life-long career and the problem is one of recruitment, rather than retention in the profession, he added, noting that this required a shift in the public perception of shipping, particularly amongst the young. IMO - the International Maritime Organization - is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.
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