Norwegian shipping firm banks on Pinoy seamen to drive growth
MANILA, Philippines - A Norwegian shipping company is banking on Filipinos born and trained here to support its growth targets in the next five years.
In a press briefing Monday, officials of Odfjell, a shipping conglomerate based in Bergen, Norway, said the company would add two ships a year to its fleet of over a hundred vessels, and would fill the 25 positions needed to run each ship with Filipino seamen.
"We have an indefinite commitment to [hire] Filipino seafarers," said Jan Arthur Hammer, president and chief operating officer of Odfjell Tankers AS.
Kjell Arne Johansen, owner’s representative of Odfjell Philippines, Inc., said two 40,000-ton vessels, designed to transport chemicals, acids, petroleum products and edible oils, would be added to its fleet. Each ship is estimated to cost $80 million to $100 million.
He said the company has around 2,000 crew members working on board and in various positions in the shore organization, and close to three-quarters of them are Filipinos.
The Oslo Stock Exchange-listed company on Monday opened a nine-storey facility in Manila, which will serve as an administrative center for all crew-related activities such as recruitment, crew processing and dispatch, and career management.
The inauguration coincided with Odfjell’s 23 years in the country, as well as the first anniversary of Odfjell Philippines’ incorporation.
Odfjell was set up in the early 1900s by the Odfjell family, whose members were seafarers.
Its main headquarters is in Bergen, Norway, a country with a long history in seafaring dating back to the time of the Vikings.
Today, Odfjell SE is a global leader in transporting bulk liquids such as chemicals, petroleum products, acids, alcohols, vegetable oils and animal fats.
Helge Olsen, senior vice-president of another Odfjell affiliate, Odfjell SE, said the company would "continue to develop Filipino operators for all levels of employment."
In 2003, the company set up Odfjell Academy at the Subic Bay Freeport in Olongapo City to improve the skills of its pool of seafarers.
The academy offers in-house training courses, focusing mainly on shipboard operations and health, safety and environmental procedures.
The company has also partnered with the J.B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, for a cadetship program.
Remegio S. Zamora, project manager of Odfjell Ship Management Philippines, said the training programs prepare the students beyond Commission on Higher Education standards.
Mr. Johansen said the company spends around $100,000 a year on the program.
He said both programs will be able to fill whatever employment demand the company may experience in the next five years.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hammer said the company has been affected by high inflation, higher oil prices and other costs.
"Over the last couple of years, we have seen a rise in management costs," he said, though he declined to be more specific. — Paolo Luis G. Montecillo, BusinessWorld
In a press briefing Monday, officials of Odfjell, a shipping conglomerate based in Bergen, Norway, said the company would add two ships a year to its fleet of over a hundred vessels, and would fill the 25 positions needed to run each ship with Filipino seamen.
"We have an indefinite commitment to [hire] Filipino seafarers," said Jan Arthur Hammer, president and chief operating officer of Odfjell Tankers AS.
Kjell Arne Johansen, owner’s representative of Odfjell Philippines, Inc., said two 40,000-ton vessels, designed to transport chemicals, acids, petroleum products and edible oils, would be added to its fleet. Each ship is estimated to cost $80 million to $100 million.
He said the company has around 2,000 crew members working on board and in various positions in the shore organization, and close to three-quarters of them are Filipinos.
The Oslo Stock Exchange-listed company on Monday opened a nine-storey facility in Manila, which will serve as an administrative center for all crew-related activities such as recruitment, crew processing and dispatch, and career management.
The inauguration coincided with Odfjell’s 23 years in the country, as well as the first anniversary of Odfjell Philippines’ incorporation.
Odfjell was set up in the early 1900s by the Odfjell family, whose members were seafarers.
Its main headquarters is in Bergen, Norway, a country with a long history in seafaring dating back to the time of the Vikings.
Today, Odfjell SE is a global leader in transporting bulk liquids such as chemicals, petroleum products, acids, alcohols, vegetable oils and animal fats.
Helge Olsen, senior vice-president of another Odfjell affiliate, Odfjell SE, said the company would "continue to develop Filipino operators for all levels of employment."
In 2003, the company set up Odfjell Academy at the Subic Bay Freeport in Olongapo City to improve the skills of its pool of seafarers.
The academy offers in-house training courses, focusing mainly on shipboard operations and health, safety and environmental procedures.
The company has also partnered with the J.B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, for a cadetship program.
Remegio S. Zamora, project manager of Odfjell Ship Management Philippines, said the training programs prepare the students beyond Commission on Higher Education standards.
Mr. Johansen said the company spends around $100,000 a year on the program.
He said both programs will be able to fill whatever employment demand the company may experience in the next five years.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hammer said the company has been affected by high inflation, higher oil prices and other costs.
"Over the last couple of years, we have seen a rise in management costs," he said, though he declined to be more specific. — Paolo Luis G. Montecillo, BusinessWorld
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