Subscribe to our Mailing Lists (It's free!)
Thursday, November 30, 2023
SAFETY4SEA
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    UK Club: Digitization plays a pivotal role in enhancing fire safety onboard

    UK Club: Digitization plays a pivotal role in enhancing fire safety onboard

    fire hose nozzles

    LR: EU recalls defective AWG fire hose nozzles

    Risk Focus best practices

    UK P&I Club focuses on personnel safety in tug and barge operations

    Two incidents of armed robbery

    IMO: Boost to enhance maritime security in West and Central Africa

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    Prediabetes is a serious health condition: What you need to know

    Prediabetes is a serious health condition: What you need to know

    Stay SEAFiT: Why Musculoskeletal Health matters

    Stay SEAFiT: Why Musculoskeletal Health matters

    Book Review: A role model for ship managers

    Book Review: How technology will transform the work of human experts

    Why we should start talking about mentoring in shipping

    Why we should start talking about mentoring in shipping

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    UMAS: Key questions addressing the 2023 IMO GHG strategy

    GMF: The implications of the IMO revised GHG Strategy for shipping

    COP28 opens

    COP28: 2023 is set to be the warmest year on record

    TT Club highlights risks of plastics

    TT Club urges heightened awareness for safe transport of plastic pellets

    Azane and Amogy sign MoU

    AZANE Fuel Solutions launches ammonia bunker vessel design

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    K Line tests Autonomous navigation onboard RORO

    Autonomous navigation system successfully tested onboard RORO

    pil cargo screening tool

    Danelec expands maritime digitalization with Nautilus Labs’ AI technology platform

    carnival cyber security

    Swedish Club to offer cyber security insurance from 2024

    Shortlisted nominees announced for the 2024 SMART4SEA Awards

    Shortlisted nominees announced for the 2024 SMART4SEA Awards

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    fire onboard cargo vessel

    RISK4SEA announces CIC Preliminary Results on fire safety (September – October)

    Port State Control (PSC) inspections

    BMA: Key requirements for Port State Control inspections

    Port,Alma,,Australia

    AMSA bans third ship from poor-performing operator

    malaysia detains tanker

    UK MCA: Foreign flagged ships detained in the UK during October 2023

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Reports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    Mr. Dominguez Velasco

    Arsenio Dominguez Velasco confirmed as next IMO Secretary-General

    canada aerial surveillance

    Gard: IMO’s voluntary speed restriction scheme and WSC Whale Chart

    Three parties sign MoU

    Pioneering low-carbon LNG bunkering for iron ore shipping in Port Hedland

    nyk esg

    Woodrow: ESG concerns drive 60% of investors to consider divestment from maritime sector

  • Columns
    UK Club: Digitization plays a pivotal role in enhancing fire safety onboard

    UK Club: Digitization plays a pivotal role in enhancing fire safety onboard

    Weathernews: A shift in the approach to weather forecasting is imperative

    Weathernews: A shift in the approach to weather forecasting is imperative

    How to prepare a pre-stow plan: Key considerations

    How to prepare a pre-stow plan: Key considerations

    Trending Tags

    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Wellness Corner
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    UK Club: Digitization plays a pivotal role in enhancing fire safety onboard

    UK Club: Digitization plays a pivotal role in enhancing fire safety onboard

    fire hose nozzles

    LR: EU recalls defective AWG fire hose nozzles

    Risk Focus best practices

    UK P&I Club focuses on personnel safety in tug and barge operations

    Two incidents of armed robbery

    IMO: Boost to enhance maritime security in West and Central Africa

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    Prediabetes is a serious health condition: What you need to know

    Prediabetes is a serious health condition: What you need to know

    Stay SEAFiT: Why Musculoskeletal Health matters

    Stay SEAFiT: Why Musculoskeletal Health matters

    Book Review: A role model for ship managers

    Book Review: How technology will transform the work of human experts

    Why we should start talking about mentoring in shipping

    Why we should start talking about mentoring in shipping

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    UMAS: Key questions addressing the 2023 IMO GHG strategy

    GMF: The implications of the IMO revised GHG Strategy for shipping

    COP28 opens

    COP28: 2023 is set to be the warmest year on record

    TT Club highlights risks of plastics

    TT Club urges heightened awareness for safe transport of plastic pellets

    Azane and Amogy sign MoU

    AZANE Fuel Solutions launches ammonia bunker vessel design

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    K Line tests Autonomous navigation onboard RORO

    Autonomous navigation system successfully tested onboard RORO

    pil cargo screening tool

    Danelec expands maritime digitalization with Nautilus Labs’ AI technology platform

    carnival cyber security

    Swedish Club to offer cyber security insurance from 2024

    Shortlisted nominees announced for the 2024 SMART4SEA Awards

    Shortlisted nominees announced for the 2024 SMART4SEA Awards

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    fire onboard cargo vessel

    RISK4SEA announces CIC Preliminary Results on fire safety (September – October)

    Port State Control (PSC) inspections

    BMA: Key requirements for Port State Control inspections

    Port,Alma,,Australia

    AMSA bans third ship from poor-performing operator

    malaysia detains tanker

    UK MCA: Foreign flagged ships detained in the UK during October 2023

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Reports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    Mr. Dominguez Velasco

    Arsenio Dominguez Velasco confirmed as next IMO Secretary-General

    canada aerial surveillance

    Gard: IMO’s voluntary speed restriction scheme and WSC Whale Chart

    Three parties sign MoU

    Pioneering low-carbon LNG bunkering for iron ore shipping in Port Hedland

    nyk esg

    Woodrow: ESG concerns drive 60% of investors to consider divestment from maritime sector

  • Columns
    UK Club: Digitization plays a pivotal role in enhancing fire safety onboard

    UK Club: Digitization plays a pivotal role in enhancing fire safety onboard

    Weathernews: A shift in the approach to weather forecasting is imperative

    Weathernews: A shift in the approach to weather forecasting is imperative

    How to prepare a pre-stow plan: Key considerations

    How to prepare a pre-stow plan: Key considerations

    Trending Tags

    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Wellness Corner
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
SAFETY4SEA

VIKAND: How maritime can win the talent race

The competition for high-quality workers has gone global

by Mimi Schuppler
November 21, 2023
in Opinions
Japan Club risk of illness

Credit: Japan Club

FacebookTwitterEmailLinkedin

Amidst a rising demand, the challenge of securing a sustainable workforce has intensified. For the maritime industry to thrive long-term, it must find solutions to address crew recruitment and retention challenges, argues Mimi Schuppler, VIKAND’s Director, Engagement & Human Sustainability.

With 90% of global goods transported by sea, commercial shipping remains the clear leader in trade transportation. Yachting and cruising are also experiencing unprecedented demand, with the yachting industry doubling and cruise passengers increasing by 90% over the past two decades.

The talent race has gone global

In recent decades, crew recruitment efforts have shifted away from traditional sources like Europe, North America and Japan to primarily Asian nations, including the Philippines, China and India. Continued decarbonisation, digitisation and automation are also pushing the maritime industry into competition for computer science and engineering graduates.

RelatedNews

Woodrow: ESG concerns drive 60% of investors to consider divestment from maritime sector

DSG: Diversity and good leadership in shipping go hand in hand

Today’s skilled workers have many choices when it comes to high-tech shoreside roles. This makes it challenging for maritime companies to recruit qualified candidates. Winning the talent race will require a unified effort among maritime stakeholders to make our industry a more attractive place to work, from wages to lifestyle.

Areas where the industry can improve

A key part of changing the future of maritime labour will be improving the industry’s public image. As industry insiders, we know that seafaring offers fantastic career possibilities, including opportunities to travel, development of leadership skills, working with talented people from diverse cultures, advancing to higher-level roles, and even switching to one of the many shoreside roles that keep maritime operations moving.

We also know there’s never been a more exciting time to work in the industry, as maritime companies grow and make unprecedented changes to their environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) practices.

However, a vocal minority of dissatisfied crew continues to fuel negative press. Their issues include long deployments, outdated recruitment practices, exploitation by crewing agencies, uncompetitive salaries and poor HR practices, such as unfair promotions and organisational injustice.

Currently, there’s a high rate of attrition among officers, and crew members in general are spending fewer years at sea before transitioning to shoreside jobs. This may be due to a lack of career progression at sea, desire for family life, increased demand for workers in well-paid shoreside roles, stressful working conditions at sea, unfair contracts, unequal treatment based on gender and nationality, or other factors.

Crew members may also face limited shore leave, and limited access to internet, phone and entertainment.

As current crew members age, younger candidates from Generations Y and Z are showing less interest in working at sea. Their career needs and expectations depart significantly from those of older colleagues, reflecting a growing desire for meaningful work in a safe and respectful environment.

Furthermore, some 10,000 employees a year lose their job at sea due to failed medical exams. To compensate, the industry often promotes less experienced people to senior positions, which can increase risk. Medical claims for crew injuries are growing in both frequency and severity, with 20% of ships worldwide averaging at least one medical diversion each year.

The situation has led the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) to predict a shortfall of 90,000 trained officers by 2026. Now more than ever, our industry needs to focus on new ways to attract healthy, qualified workers.

It’s time to invest in real solutions

For maritime operators to attract talent that can sustain the industry, drastic steps must be taken. We must revamp and modernise the image of seafaring from rigid and hierarchical to a more welcoming, nurturing environment that offers equitable treatment of all people, regardless of race, gender and culture.

This begins with improving living and working conditions for crew, which includes a greater focus on physical and mental wellness, better facilities, access to physical and mental healthcare, reduced stress, and a more secure work environment with shorter deployments and better career prospects.And as the internet and mobile devices become ever more indispensable to daily life, it is critical for crew members to have reliable internet access for keeping in touch with family, maintaining healthy social connections, seeking telehealth support, enjoying personal entertainment, intellectual enrichment and more.

Seafaring is still problematic for women

Another critical step is creating a culture of respect, fairness and inclusion at sea. Operators must have zero tolerance for discrimination, bullying and harassment, with safe and effective ways for workers to seek assistance without fear of retribution.

According to a WISTA survey, just 7% of women who reported incidents of sexual assault and harrassment (SASH) to superior officers were satisfied with the outcome. It also found high rates of gender-based bullying and harassment. Nearly 60% of women reported gender-based discrimination and 66% agreed that male employees harassed and intimidated female coworkers. For those in the shipping and industrial sectors, 25% said they commonly experienced physical and sexual harassment.

An All Aboard Alliance report titled “15 Key Pain Points for Women  at Sea” found that many women feel they have to outperform male colleagues to be seen as competent. They also reported unequal access to training and opportunities, social isolation, poor support for family planning and maternity leave, and an onboard life that doesn’t feel designed for them, from a private place to change to equipment that fits their bodies.

Recruitment efforts need to evolve

Many shipping operators do take care of their crew members, offering healthcare, internet access, good food, camaraderie and a positive, inclusive onboard environment. These companies should be highlighted in recruitment efforts. And while the rest of the industry works toward this level of care, the next step is to modernise the recruitment process. The maritime industry must make efforts to:

  • Increase awareness of maritime careers and their benefits.
  • Boost recruitment in schools and colleges (including non-maritime).
  • Use social media to shine a spotlight on fantastic opportunities within the maritime industry.
  • Set up training programs with maritime schools to build talent.
  • Implement measures to retain cadets and ensure a positive and safe experience.
  • Increase access to job opportunities and promotions for historically underrepresented workers, such as females.

This last point is especially important. One concrete measure of progress in diversity, equity and inclusion will be more women in leadership roles. As an added benefit, we know from surveys that women in positions of power are less likely to experience sexual assault and harrassment. They would also be empowered to protect entry-level females, who are the demographic most likely to face gender-based discrimination at sea.

What are our next steps as an industry?

The future of seafaring depends on our ability to attract great talent. Together, we must change the maritime industry’s public image by promoting visibility of everything that makes this a great career choice. Bad news travels fast, so we must work hard to make good news travel even faster.

Change means getting out of our comfort zone, reaching further and investing in ways to inspire the next generation of seafarers. The coming decades could bring exciting transformations to ESG policies, operations, labour practices and more. If our industry can unite around this vision, then a promising future awaits maritime workers.

 

The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.

VIKAND: How maritime can win the talent race
VIKAND: How maritime can win the talent race
Tags: better working environmentESGfuture of shippingmaritime workforceVIKAND
Previous Post

Lessons learned: Collision between two container vessels

Next Post

Maritime Single Window becomes mandatory from January 2024

Mimi Schuppler

Mimi Schuppler

As the Director of Engagement and Human Sustainability, Mimi Schuppler focuses on building employee engagement and DEI initiatives within VIKAND, as well as partnering with the Global Maritime Forum on Human Sustainability. Prior to joining VIKAND, Mimi held various management, human resources, and training positions in the hospitality, real estate, and education sectors.Mimi is passionate about helping organizations deliver results through an engaged and diverse workforce. Through the lenses of a global citizen and former seafarer and her experience working with 40+ nationalities, she draws from her genuine understanding of various cultures, norms, and values to cultivate inclusive organizations and develop energized teams where individuals can thrive, feel connected and be valued as their authentic selves.Born in Taiwan, Mimi grew up in the US and spent more than a decade living on ships, across China, Hong Kong and India before landing in Austria with her family. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration in hospitality management with concentrations in Human Resources, Healthcare Administration and Marketing.

Related News

Maersk: 5 trends in freight forwarding for 2024
Shipping

Maersk: 5 trends in freight forwarding for 2024

November 27, 2023
Stay SEAFiT: Why Musculoskeletal Health matters
Maritime Health

Stay SEAFiT: Why Musculoskeletal Health matters

November 27, 2023
Why we should start talking about mentoring in shipping
Intellectual

Why we should start talking about mentoring in shipping

November 23, 2023
Mentoring vs Coaching: Breaking down the difference
Intellectual

Mentoring vs Coaching: Breaking down the difference

November 23, 2023
Redefining leadership: 10 misleading theories
Intellectual

Redefining leadership: 10 misleading theories

November 22, 2023
safety
Intellectual

Stay SEAFiT: Cultivating Psychological Safety for a thriving workplace culture

November 14, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explore more

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Shortlisted nominees announced for the 2024 SMART4SEA Awards

Shortlisted nominees announced for the 2024 SMART4SEA Awards

November 23, 2023
singapore border measures

Do you know what GT and DWT measure in a ship?

November 10, 2021
MARITIME EVENTS

Explore

  • Safety
  • SEAFiT
  • Green
  • Smart
  • Risk
  • Others
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

Useful Links

  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Policies
  • Advertising
  • Content Marketing
  • Contact

© 2021 SAFETY4SEA

No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Reports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Opinions
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Wellness Corner
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2021 SAFETY4SEA

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Disclaimer.