Maritime Industry Vacuumed For Expertise

Higher wages and better rotation schemes in the oil industry enable seafarers seek to escape from the maritime industry. At the same time educates only half the skills they will need until 2020.

The maritime industry in Norway will require all 10,000 Norwegian seamen up to the year 2020, according to a new research report from Fafo. At the same time there will be trained under 5000 students in maritime subjects, and a high percentage of these will end up working on oil platforms.

There is a concern in the industry that rig vacuum cleaner market and attracts labor. Before it was more fluidity between segments, which was a big advantage for Norway. When the competence-related ecosystem put into play, we lose something of what has given Norway a unique position, said lead researcher Jon Rogstad at Fafo to DN.no.

It is Norwegian Maritime Competence Foundation who ordered the survey of the industry's future skills needs.

Drawn toward higher wages

Among the Norwegian sailors between 26 and 40 years who had plans to change jobs, said over half that they wanted to work on oil platforms. Wages and working time arrangements were the factors that weighed most heavily in this election. It would also be likely that they will have difficulty obtaining such a job, since education and practical experience from the sea is attractive for rig industry.

Having practical experience along with education is very attractive, and many find that the oil industry picks it the need of people. It is perceived as a "free rider problems." It was for example said that the oil industry got a "free lunch." says Rogstad said.

More challenges

The new government has announced that they will now legislate the existing net pay scheme which ensures that shipowners get reimbursed what they pay income tax, social security contributions and payroll for about 10,000 workers a year. Minister Torbjørn Røe Isaksen has also stated that he will increase the apprenticeship grant.

Maritime Industry Vacuumed For Expertise

This bodes well for the shipowners, who can lure with the same rotation schemes or salary levels as oil platforms. Personnel Director Erling Lodden in Eidesvik underlines that the industry also has more challenges than the great need for expertise.

The foremost challenge is to get a balance in the number of educated and what the industry can take on apprentices. More in the maritime industry must take training responsibilities. To achieve this, it is essential to have predictable framework, he says to DN.no.