THE Philippines is losing its edge in seamanship as China overtook the country as the world’s top producer of seafarers, particularly ship officers, according to the Catholic Church’s agency dedicated to the maritime workers in 200 ports and more than 30 countries around the world.
“The Chinese are now taking over and there are other nationalities that are coming forward especially for the officers and Filipinos should work double time,” said Fr. Bruno Ciceri, representative of the Apostleship of the Sea International, otherwise known as Stella Maris.
Speaking at the 21st National Seafarers’ Day celebration at the SMX at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Ciceri said many companies still prefer Filipino seafarers but China has now produced the most number of seafarers qualified for international shipping.
He said while the Philippine is still the top supplier of rated seafarers, it has lagged behind China in producing officers which will be needed in the next 10 years.
According to a report of the Baltic and International Maritime Council and the International Chamber of Shipping, there is now a shortfall of 16,500 officers while the world will need 92,000 officers in 2020 and 147,500 more in 2025. There is, on the other hand, a surplus of rated seafarers at 116,000.
“There are many Filipino ratings but for Filipino officers, we have less. We need more Filipino officers and I would advise Filipinos to work hard to improve their capacity to become officers because that is what is lacking in the [maritime industry],” Ciceri said.
Before China’s takeover, the Philippines had long held the position of being the world’s capital source of seafarers with some 367,000 Filipino seafarers deployed all over the world.
Filipino seafarers are the top choice in the international maritime industry because of their industry, compassion, resilience and good grasp of the English language, Ciceri said.
Ciceri, was guest of honor in this year’s celebration of the Seafarer’s Day with the theme “Marinong Pilipino: Tatak ng Kahusayan.”
The event, which was attended by some 4,000 seafarers and maritime students and their families, was co-sponsored by the Apostleship of the Sea, the Committee on the National Seafarer’s Day and SM Global Pinoy.
Also gracing the event were 60 foreign delegates of the International Christian Maritime Association who came to the country to know more about Filipino culture and how to assist them wherever they are in the globe.
Icma is an ecumenical association which is actively engaged in upholding the welfare of people who work at sea and their families.
Ciceri, who also headed the Icma delegation, said they will spend a week in the Philippines to meet Filipino seafarers, maritime officials and students and conduct lectures. “Many of the delegates are here in the Philippines for the first time and it is a learning experience for them,” he said.
The National Seafarer’s Day is an annual event that is celebrated every last Sunday of September under the Presidential Proclamation No. 828. This celebration started in 1997 and it has always been part of the National Maritime Week, which is done during the last week of September.
