Shortage of On-Board Training Berths for Indian Seafarers in Maritime Industry

The shortage of on-board training berths for Indian seafarers is causing concern within the maritime industry. Entry-level seafarers must undergo apprenticeships on cargo ships after completing pre-sea maritime training. However, many maritime recruitment firms prefer trained and experienced seafarers, creating a bottleneck for new entrants into the industry. This demand-supply disparity has led to a situation where only a limited number of companies invest in training entry-level seafarers.

According to Vineet Gupta, managing director of Anglo Eastern Ship Management India, the lack of training berths is a significant issue in the Indian maritime industry. The annual demand for on-board training berths far exceeds the available opportunities, with about 5,000-5,500 entry-level Indian seafarers seeking placement as trainees each year. Gupta urged the government to intervene and create more training berths on cargo vessels to address this imbalance.

Anglo Eastern Group’s India-based Maritime Academy is working to address this issue by guaranteeing placements for all pass-outs on on-board training berths. The academy provides training slots for over 750 Indian deck and engine cadets each year, ensuring job opportunities for them based on performance results. It is suggested that the Director General of Shipping make it mandatory for all shipping companies recruiting Indian officers to provide training slots to help bridge the gap between demand and supply for on-board training opportunities.

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