Whether or not there is a serious shortage of cadets, and whether there are the necessary jobs for them has always been an emotive topic. According to at least one recent press report, the UK Chamber of Shipping was accused by officers union Nautilus International of breaking promises on training seafarers, an accusation the Chamber denied…
The UK Chamber of Shipping and seafarers' union Nautilus may have had their differences over tonnage tax, but they were singing from the same song sheet about reports that the Department for Transport has been asked to find cuts of between 25% and 40%. The Chamber has asked the government not to seek savings from the Support for Maritime Training Scheme, and warned that the withdrawal of the scheme could make it uneconomic for operators to train UK officers…
“Smoothing the Way” is the title of a conference which is being put on by the Maritime Skills Alliance on September 27 at Trinity House…
Three engineering students were gathered together discussing the possible designers of the human body…
Summer is upon us, with all that that entails in terms of trying to track down people you need to contact, all of whom appear to have left their various countries in search of a suitable level of UV grilling. At this time of year, the press generally breaks out its good old stories, although we have yet to see the traditional August Titanic tale…
Happy Birthday to INTERTANKO who turned 40 this month. And boy did they celebrate in style, with an anniversary dinner at the Royal Courts of Justice in London in the stunning Great Hall. Some 450 of the greatest and the best in shipping enjoyed a fabulous meal and entertainment befitting an industry that has plenty to be proud of!
The 20,000 or so of you who went to Posidonia will now be through your month on the wagon, having given your livers a well-earned rest. In spite of the recession, there was no shortage of entertainment this year. In a symbolic gesture, the Union of Greek Shipowners bash was called off but the Ferraris, Maseratis, glamorous dresses and glittering jewels were there in abundance…
Given the number of newbuildings still to be delivered, in spite of delays or cancellations, the seafarer shortage is likely to become ever more acute. Some estimates put the number of new seafarers needed to cope with the current orderbook at 100,000 to 130,000…
One of the problems stopping former officers being redeployed ashore is that of visas. One Indian master mariner now working for a P&I Club told us recently that while he knew many master mariners based in India that were keen to take up jobs in Europe, their nationality was denying them the opportunity…
