Owners balk at crew cost increases

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Saturday, 28 March 2009

MANY members of the International Maritime Employers’ Committee (IMEC) used the organisations annual general meeting in London on Wednesday to express concerns that negotiations at the International Bargaining Forum could lead to increased crew costs. The AGM followed yesterday's Executive Committee meeting. An IMEC statement says: “The Annual General Meeting brought together a significant gathering of the IMEC membership, which is made up of over 130 maritime employer representatives from all over the world. The discussions during the meeting were wide ranging, covering a number of topics which included debate on the current financial crisis that is heavily affecting world shipping. This topic was of particular relevance given that the IBF will be meeting during this year to discuss the terms and conditions for seafarers sailing aboard members’ ships.”
IMEC says: “Many of the members voiced concerns that in the current financial climate, they would not be able to support discussions at the IBF that could lead to any increased costs in their sea-staff personnel budgets, indeed they were under severe pressure to substantially reduce these costs.”
The meeting was also updated on the status of the various training initiatives that are being undertaken, in particular the expansion of the IMEC Cadet programme in the Philippines. This programme is increasing during 2009 to allow for a further 50 Cadets to be taken on under full sponsorship at the University of Cebu and, for the first time, 150 Cadets at the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific in a campus for IMEC’s sole use. The training programmes will be administered by IMEC’s dedicated Manila training office. Other key projects that IMEC members were updated on included the provision of free English language training in Novorossiysk and the provision of funding to convert ratings to officers to support the need for future manpower.
IMEC chairman Ian Sherwood said: “The entire maritime industry is facing enormous challenges as a result of the current world financial situation; it is important that we hear and understand the pressures facing every one of our members and ensure that our policies and aims are adjusted by consensus to take account of individual concerns. This I believe we have achieved very successfully during the course of our meetings.”
Source: Maritime Global Net