New York broker warns on manning

New York: Leading gas and tanker broker Poten & Partners has warned that the present shortage of officers is likely to get worse and urges more shipowners to set up their own maritime academies. The shortage could run to more than 25,000 officers by 2015, according to estimates from Bimco and the International Shipping Federation. Poten says the universal problem is likely to get worse and points to the number of tankers on order. More than 130m dwt of new tonnage is due to be delivered between now and 2011, Poten estimates, and whilst there will of course be some wastage, rapid fleet expansion is inevitable.

A number of forward-looking lines have established their own academies recently. K-Line, for example, opened a new training facility in Mumbai, India, on June 1st to complement its existing facilities in Japan and the Philippines. The company expects to turn out around 500 trainees a year. Mitsui OSK and NYK have also taken steps to raise training levels. But Poten warns that attracting personnel and persuading them to stay at sea is increasing difficult "in an environment that involves the inherent and obvious risks of seafaring, long assignments and time away from families, as well as exposure to potential criminal liability." [20/06/07]

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