Is Manpower quality destroying us?

Under the banner of the Company of Master Mariners of India representatives of trade organizations for manning, ship management, maritime training, ship owners and others while deliberating on the issue decided at their annual Maritime Spectrum 2012 to take the bull by the horns and make a sincere effort to refurbish the system. They discussed threadbare the whole issue of manning, beginning with maritime training to the present quality of seafaring activity.   

It is a known fact that Indian seafarers command a salary which is generally higher than most other nationalities. This is because many ship owners prefer Indian officers. Also our industry is trying to market more seafarers without actually aiming at the proper objective. Besides, there is the tendency both among several training institutes and shipping companies to cut corners when it comes to providing training in order to raise the level of quality. Both want to cut the cake and eat it and both want to make a quick buck.   

Mr. S. I. Nathan Chairman of a group of Institutes including Coimbatore Marine College averred that the number of training institutes that are needed and the level of quality standards the institutes are required to have is decided by the Director General of Shipping. In this regards the training institutes had little say in the matter. He maintained that contribution for enhancing quality cannot be only from the side of the seafarers, it also depends on the shipping companies. He supported campus interviews as they would bring about competition among institutes and help to shore up the quality.

“Another way to raise the quality was to direct students looking for an opening in shipping company to approach their own training institutes to seek their recommendation,” said Subodh Devgaonkar, Principal of MANET Training Institute. “If the companies also support this stand then institute will be able to present the student’s realistic background which companies are not aware when they recruit directly.  

Describing the situation in which the present day seafarer finds himself in, Capt K. S. Paintal, Chairman of FOSMA (Foreign Owners Representatives and Ship Managers Association) and Managing Director of Elite Mariners Pvt. Ltd., and Elite Journeys Mgmt Pvt Ltd. put it very succinctly, “We don’t have control over childhood but the management of training institutes can have control over the cadet and bring about rectification. But the main issue responsible for today’s situation is the shortage of seafarers. Many seafarers get attracted to the fat salaries that come with the job. They join a company do the training and once they complete it they automatically find themselves in big demand with offers galore coming from other companies because of the seafarers’ shortage. His professionalism goes for a toss. He becomes something akin to a mercenary.” Capt Paintal feels that it is the duty of the training institute to cultivate the professionalism in seafarers.

Coming to the oft asked query ‘whether our industry offer cadets a career or a job’? Representative of INSA (Indian National Shipowners Association) Capt C. P. Athaide, Executive of the Shipping Corporation of India contended that it depends on market forces. Right from the beginning the opportunities have been on supply and demand. “Right through history it is a fact that in endeavoring to ‘export Indian officers’ our market has tried to market more without aiming at the proper objective,” he said. “We must balance quality with quantity through mentoring.”

Capt Ajay Achuthan representing MASSA (Maritime Association of Shipowners Shipmanagers and Agents) said, “We don’t define what our business is. In the entire life cycle of a seafarer we need to address all the issues holistically. I feel we don’t give proper care. Young people feel that they are not being offered a definite career path.”

About the possibility of the industry not being properly projected for recruiting cadets, Capt Paintal stand was that instilling professionalism and quality should be at the training institute level. It is important to undertake the right screening and selection done at the training institute level.

Then the question that took center stage was whether more stringent standards and norms will help enhance quality. Subodh Devgaonkar, Principal of MANET Training Institute pointed out that minimum standards are already in existence and before restructuring the syllabus the question that needs to be answered is whether we are trying to make it difficult for youth to join the sea. “A common syllabus and common entrance examination would make wonders,”

In conclusion it was underscored that mentoring was important. There is a need for a demographic shift and more effort to get candidates from the interior of the country.  Some shipping companies are getting their recruits trained at certain training institutes of their choice or select from the list of outstanding cadets that pass out, which is a good trend. This it was unanimously felt should be encouraged since in the long run it will enhance quality and inculcate professionalism.