The global maritime industry continues to favor Filipino seafarers who are admired for their fluency in English and for being hardworking.
Filipinos make up 30 percent of the world's seafaring population earning the Philippines the title, "the manning capital of the world."
To further emphasize that point Odfjell Se, a global shipping firm based in Norway, announced that it would hire only Filipinos to work alongside European seafarers onboard its vessels.
Filipinos are generally favored in the industry because of their English speaking ability, their dedication to work and because easily get along with people of other nationalities.
The increasing number of maritime schools sprouting around the country is a direct response to global demand for Filipino seamen in the labor export market.
"The increasing demand for seafarers is due to the increasing number of new ships, because of that they need manpower, seafarers to man their vessels," said Capt. Nikulus Gines, Dean NYK-TDG [Nippon Yusen Kaisha-Transnational Diversified Group] Maritime Academy.
"Ship owners are building new ships, NYK line there are ships scheduled to be built until year 2012. There is a strong demand," said Gines.
For as long as this demand for seafarers remains strong, so will the demand for martime schools.
There is a strong sense of hope and pride for the students at this maritime academy, because not only are they getting an education, upon graduating, they will also be guaranteed a job, a job that will pay them US2,000 a month.
For a 21-year old fresh graduate, this signifies the beginning of a potentially very lucrative career.
"That's a big honor for me and for my family because automatically at a very young age I will be able to help my family financially and help my little brother who is in elementary right now. It really relieves a lot of stress. I was worried what job I should take," said Richard Tinloc, NYK-TDG Maritime Academy student.
Some maritime schools even provide living quarters and a study now pay later scheme which allows a student to borrow money from the school's loan assistance fund.
The loan payment then begins when the graduate is deployed on board a vessel.
Apart from that, the lure of early retirement and good pay is very attractive.
"That means there is a bright future for them. Imagine a 21-year old earning that much. Its good for their family and for the economy," Gines said.
