Seafaring as a job in Malaysia

Abstract

Shipping industry is the most important industry to our nation that influences our country economic growth. In this industry, a vessel is symbol growth of the economy. Therefore, our countries need a man too properly sail our vessels. From the rank of captain until the stewards, we need our man too properly maintain the vessel seaworthiness. But nowadays, the shipping industry is facing the acute shortage of seaman including Malaysia. In addition there are reported that our own flag vessel is been man by foreigner. With the acute shortage, our shipping company is force to hire the foreigner and also the lack of interest of local people to seek carrier in the industry also contributed the acute. Thus this study is seeking the requirement to become seaman and which side of foreign and local seafarers are beneficial in other ways. By the survey been done from the local seafarer around the Malaysia, currently the local seafarers are not comfortable working with the foreign yet they also said that number of current seafarer in Malaysia is enough to cover the shortage. In addition, with increasing number of local people been registered as seaman there are also increasing number of foreign seafarer is increasing together with local people number. From the study been done, there is no hard procedure to became ratings on board the vessel. But to become officer a person required a lot of focus to studies and accomplished certain thing. But it is important because they will become the officer on board the vessel and in charge of the safety of their crew. Furthermore, if the company is willing to train the local people to become seafarer, it is more beneficial than hiring the foreign. It is due to the currency flow and future of the shipping industry. If our vessel been dominate by foreign it is loss to us either in our job vacancy also trough economy.