maritime

WV seafarers impress Norwegian ship industry

A big pool of skilled graduates of premier maritime school John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation (JBLCF) in Iloilo City have impressed the Norwegian Ship-owners Association (NSA), according to Stale Torstein Risa, Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines.
Iloilo is touted a “seamen’s country” as evident of mushrooming “mansions” being constructed from the earnings of Ilonggo seafarers for their families.
Risa, accompanied by JBLCF president Marylou Arceo yesterday paid a courtesy call to Mayor Jerry Treñas at the City Hall, after visiting JBLCF campuses based in the city.
The ambassador also visited JBLCF’s training center in Guimaras Island and another campus in Bacolod, Negros Occidental.
Risa noted the NSA and JBLCF have been partners for a nautical scholarship program for 13 years already.
He said JBLCF is one of five schools all over the country that were chosen by NSA for the scholarship program which includes a two-year course, one-year on-ship training and another one-year schooling aimed at producing competitive maritime graduates.
During his visit to the campuses here, Risa noticed JBLCF having “excellent facilities.”
“The NSA is happy to cooperate with JBLCF where they could get the best seafarers. NSA only chose the schools that they find the best quality education practices and can offer their expertise for the shipping industry,” Risa told reporters.
He said NSA has been “very particular” in hiring the finest sea-based workers.
“NSA is very happy of the graduates of JBLCF because they are excellent. A lot of cadets have good performance and are loyal to the ship-owners. They provide the right blend of competence, loyalty and as excellent shippers,” said Risa.
He added the development of maritime personnel needs adequate school environment with competent equipment and teachers.
“All scholars will be hired by the ship-owners. They know where they going after school and are lucky of the jobs given by their employers as the companies would choose how many they would like to hire,” Risa said.
Norway, Risa said has a large shipping industry being one of the biggest five in the world with “cross-straiter” cargo ships sailing globally from US to Europe to Japan to Saudi Arabia.
“But we don’t have seafarers anymore because all of them are now working in the oil industry,” Risa said adding they have been hiring workers from the Philippines, Indonesia, India, China and Russia.
And Filipino employees are considered to be the “most popular.”
“Those from the Philippines are the most-sought after seafarers and more of them are getting hired because women too, are now engaged in the maritime field. Filipinos’ adept of the English language is a plus while they blend well in the international crew because of good work ethics,” said Risa.
Meanwhile, Arceo said they have 300 NSA scholars this year and targeted 500 applicants next year to qualify for the full-scholarship grants including free tuition, books, and dormitory.