
Seajobs In India-2021
People who work on ships and who regularly travel on the sea are seafarers. India is the fifth largest supplier of officers for seajobs after China, the Philippines, Russia and Ukraine, according to the ‘Manpower Report 2015’, published by the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and the Internal Chamber of Shipping (ICS). The worldwide population of seafarers having jobs on ships is estimated at 1,647,500 seafarers, of which 774,000 are officers and 873,500 are ratings.
China, the Philippines, Indonesia, the Russian Federation and Ukraine are estimated to be the five largest supply countries for all seafarers jobs (officers and ratings). The Philippines is the biggest supplier of ratings, followed by China, Indonesia, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. While China is the biggest supplier of officers, followed by the Philippines, India, Indonesia and the Russian Federation.
During the pandemic, seafarers jobs have become the world’s forgotten essential workers. As crews on cargo ships, they help move 90% of global trade and form vital links in the world’s supply chains. Last year, the International Maritime Organization had to push governments to designate seafarers jobs as key workers, to allow them to negotiate travel restrictions and put them in line for priority vaccinations.
Close to 1,90,000 Indian nationals are employed on foreign flagged ships, both as officers and general-purpose ratings/staff. Besides, there are thousands of Indians working on seajobs / cruise ships. Indian-flagged or Indian registered ships are by law allowed to employ only Indian nationals on board.
In addition to the current available seafarers there are many fresh marine engineers / ship engineers who are waiting to get employed as cadets to complete their marine engineering training onboard ships. Also Deck cadets who are going to be officers’ onboard ships in future are waiting for their chances.
The surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths in India this year has hit the livelihoods of these workers hard. Seafarers at home, applying for new assignments, find that companies are reluctant to crew their ships with Indians because of Covid-19 concerns—a situation that leaves these men and women financially vulnerable.
Also noticed that few of the officers (deck and engine room ) are joining with companies for shore jobs as marine superintendent , surveyors etc due to the difficulties they daily watch in news about crew changes and uncertainties associated with crew changes in different ports world wide.
SeaJobs on-board cruise ship / cruise ship jobs
As cruise lines shut operations globally in the wake of the health crisis, many Indian crew on board luxury liners were signed off and repatriated to India without the need for relievers. The industry impact on crewing following Royal Caribbean Group’s temporary suspension of hiring Indian crew due to the COVID-19 situation in the country depends on whether other cruise lines follow suit and when India is deemed “safe.”
India is an important source country for crew recruitment, and many Indians hold key positions in food and beverage and housekeeping, according to the Norwegian Seafarers Union (NSU).The NSU said that latest estimates (2018)) showed that approximately 15 percent of crew and staff came from India, compared to 30 percent from the Philippines and 11 percent from Indonesia.
Recruiting and crewing companies surveyed by Cruise Industry News said they are continuing to recruit globally, including the Philippines, Indonesia and China, while following protocols of testing prior to travel, protective measures while traveling and testing and quarantine upon arrival onboard vessels. (Source; cruiseindustrynews.com, May 2021)
Many cruise line companies operate in all parts of the world – from small local river cruises to large international corporations ,main seajobs crews
A-ROSA Flussschiff, AIDA Cruises, Ama Waterways, American Cruise Lines, American Queen Steamboat Company ,Azamara Club Cruises, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Douro Azul, Dream Cruise Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines , Hapag Lloyd Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Hurtigruten, MSC Cruises, Marella Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line , P&O Cruises, Paradise Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises, Star Cruises,TUI Cruise , The World, Uniworld River Cruises ,Variety Cruises, Viking ,Virgin Voyages ,Windstar Cruises etc are few of the major players in cruise ship industry who provides jobs on ships ( Seajobs /cruise jobs).