Thinking Heads Together
[posted: Sep 18 2007]
When the Maritime Industry leaders agree to meet and consensually focus on one goal, good things are usually in store for the industry. Even the most difficult of problems currently being faced by the industry, specifically the shortage of officers, can be addressed in the proper perspective, if leaders are putting their heads together on the issues at hand.
This became very apparent during a pre convention workshop initiated by the Filipino Association for Mariners’ Employment (FAME) held on August 3, 20072007 at the Century Park Hotel. Major stalwarts of the industry took time off their respective hectic schedules to participate in a day –long collaborative undertaking that officially paved the way for the holding of the first ever Philippine Manning Convention 2007 in November.
Slated in November 12-13, 2007 at the One Esplanade in SM Central Business Park Bay in Pasay City, the Philippine Manning Convention 2007 will focus on the strategies and course of actions of the stakeholders of the Philippine Manning industry in meeting the demands for seafarers.
Timing will be of great essence to the Philippine Manning Convention 2007 to draw a significant number of foreign delegates, mostly ship owners and ship managers or their representatives, as the event will be held before the 8th Asia Pacific Manning and Training Conference on November 14-15, 2007 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City.
As agreed during the pre convention workshop, the presentation on the five identified facets of the Philippine manning industry will be presented during the convention based on the framework of “what we have done; what we are still doing; and what we expect from other sector including the government and the ship owners” in developing concrete industry strategies to tackle the present challenges in meeting the global demand for Filipino seafarers.
These facets were previously identified through a survey made by the manning convention organizing committee on maritime industry leaders held some three weeks before the pre convention workshop. These are education, training, certification and licensing, employment practices and documentation, sustainability and growth, and legal and legislative.
Aptly entitled “Joining Hands in Meeting the Global Demand for Filipino Seafarers – Toward a Committed Partnership,” the Philippine Manning Convention 2007 ushers an industry breakthrough as it puts together all of the country’s major maritime groups in one major undertaking, resembling the formation of a ‘Dream Team,’ in a basketball parlance.
And just like in the case of the basketball ‘Dream Team,’ each stakeholder had to set aside their own goals to give way for the bigger target in order for the collective efforts to greatly rebound for the overall good of the Philippine seafaring industry.
Each sector of the Philippine maritime industry was well-represented during the pre- convention workshop. From officials of government maritime agencies, leaders and officers of manning industry associations, maritime professional organizations, maritime labor unions, to representative of ship owners, P&I clubs and presidents and owners of maritime schools and maritime training centers, all the major sectors of the Philippine maritime industry were taken into account.
Stimulating Experience
Apart from having the feel of an industry breakthrough, the pre convention workshop also had the key elements to stimulate each participant to bring out the best within them and contribute towards the goal of the event for the maritime industry.
FAME President Engr. Sammuel T. Lim, who is also the Chairman of the manning convention organizing committee, set the tone for the pre convention workshop when he lauded the leaders, experts, and professionals both from the government and private sector for their warm enthusiasm towards the event.
Eric Marquez, a member of the organizing committee, got the ball rolling during the pre- convention workshop by providing an informative overview on the “POEA Statistic Data on Seafarers’ Recruitment,” to enlighten participants on the dynamic manpower demands of maritime industry. He also cited the emerging trends in the global maritime industry including the increasing number of vessels on the world merchant fleet and the growing shortfall for officers and engineers in the local market.
The participants were then made to work as they were eventually split into five clusters based on the facets earlier identified and were made to brainstorm on the given issues. Discussions were made in accordance with the agreed workshop creed and rules, allowing for the effective free-flowing of ideas from each participant.
A plenary session was subsequently held where cluster leaders presented their respective position papers obtained from the break out sessions that included recommendations, details of discussion, points of agreement, and time table of implementation for the plans of actions.
Another highlight of the workshop was the shaping of puzzle pieces which displayed the convention logo and signatures of the participants as their symbolical representation of commitment – graphically demonstrating that everything is possible if stakeholders of the industry work for a common cause.
Philippine Japan Manning Consultative Council President Eduardo Manese wrapped up the workshop with his closing remarks, by expressing profound gratitude to the active participation of each industry stakeholder, the effort of the organizing committee, the facilitators’ team and the secretariat.
The outcome of the pre-convention workshop has significantly produced a clear set of recommended actions to a wider audience in a way likely to prompt a positive response at improving the ability to achieve the industry’s goals, and is expected to put even more heads together in the upcoming Philippine Manning Convention 2007.
Tinig ng Marino - September - October 2007
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