QUALITY over QUANTITY

           Based on data from Department of Labour and Employment, one of every four seamen in international shipping is a Filipino. There are about 1.5 million seafarers employed in international shipping and 365,000 Filipinos in 2012 are employed as seafarers.  This puts the Philippines as the single most important provider of seafarers to  the international trade.

          According to MARINA administrator PhD Maximo Mejia Jr., there are 91 schools in the Philippines enrolling an average of 71,000 students to maritime courses every year, and from the same source; only 16 % are graduating ! The dropout rate is stunning and to me it seems that quality is set aside in favour of economy. 

         Other sources have indicated that only 3500 – 5000 graduates actually are employed onboard as seafarers – if this is correct the NSA Cadet program alone covers around 10% of the demand of future officers from the Philippines.

         The fact that EMSA is coming back for an audit in October is good news, and I look upon it as an opportunity for the Philippine Government to prove that they are committed to the task so that in the future they'll be allowed to be the number one provider of seafarers to international shipping. 

         I have heard, and seen it written – “we (The Philippines) have nothing to worry about – they cannot put a ban on us “  Don´t be too sure about that.

Historically ship owners have been able to change if situation dictates.  A lot of them have already a contingency plan prepared if EMSA enforces a ban on Filipino seafarers, and this is not something that should be shrugged off.  I know of companies that, as we speak are employing European seafarers on same terms and conditions as a Filipino.

           The EMSA audit is an opportunity spelled clear and concise for the Philippine government and its relevant agencies who were tasked to undertake necessary actions to address the expressed concern of the EMSA audit team; therefore we shouldn't be threatened but challenged.

          Filipino seafarers are hardworking and competent and I enjoyed working with them while I was still sailing as Master. Members and principals of Norwegian Shipowners' Association, the founding organization of NTC-M, will hopefully continue to employ qualified Filipino seafarers on their vessels, but there will always be a need for continuous improvement and quality control.

            Almost 25 years ago Norway and Norwegian Shipowners Association chose to invest in quality when they established NTC-M. It was founded to give quality training and maritime education to Filipino seafarers serving the Norwegian controlled fleet. 25 years back, they chose quality above anything else, and this vision is still very much alive for us. Areas for improvement are continuously sought for in our training courses, in our cadetship programs, in our affiliated schools where we send our scholars and in our daily operations as an organization.

           In order to continuously strive for higher quality in what NTC-M deliver we started a program last year, where we are conducting audits twice a year to maintain check and balance of the curriculum run by our affiliated schools and its continuing relevance to our pursuit for quality maritime education. Through this effort, I hope to enhance the output from the schools and be an ally of the Philippines to retain its standing in seafaring industry.

Best regards!

Capt. Erik Freberg Blom

Managing Director