The Offshore Marine Service Association announced the formation of a Committee in order to formulate ways to assist the career path of current merchant mariners and recruit the next generation.
Namely, the OMSA Workforce Development Committee aims to empower and leverage the knowledge of industry experts to create meaningful and lasting change for the industry.
Like much of the international maritime industry, OMSA members are working to secure a sufficient number of mariners for their current operations, increased activity in traditional offshore markets, and the new offshore wind market.
This challenge has become increasingly difficult as the industry confronts the impacts of the global pandemic as well as regulatory, societal, and market changes. In response, the OMSA Board of Directors unanimously adopted a resolution creating the OMSA Workforce Development Committee.
As informed, the Committee will be composed of industry experts nominated by OMSA Members and officially approved by the OMSA Board of Directors.
Each Committee Member will represent a segment of the maritime industry. For example, vessel operators with fleets of 10 vessels or less will have a dedicated member.
Additionally, at least one member of the Committee will hold a current merchant mariner license. As a whole, the Committee will be charged with crafting recommendations to the OMSA Board of Directors for policy positions and strategies to increase the number of men and women working in the U.S. maritime industry and to ensure that these Americans have an achievable pathway to further their careers.
Following the above, OMSA President, Aaron Smith said, “the foundation of the Jones Act industry is the hardworking men and women that build and operate U.S.-flagged vessels. Currently, there are too many barriers preventing these mariners from advancing their careers or returning to the industry after the downturn, I look forward to seeing what solutions the Committee can formulate to cut this red tape and reestablish the hawsepipe. Further, the Committee will work to find ways to attract and retain the next generation of professional mariners, something I think that everyone in the industry understands we need to work on.”
How does one access this opportunity or is it restricted to certain regions?
Be great if harmonised around the Seafaring community around the world.