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The following is issued on behalf of the Maritime Professional Promotion Federation:
Deck cadets and engine cadets who had completed a two-year cadetship at sea, shared their experience of working onboard at a press conference today (April 4) on "Star Pisces" of Star Cruises by the Maritime Professional Promotion Federation.
The cadets expressed their feelings about and expectations on their seafaring career during the interview with journalists. Representatives of Maritime Services Training Institute, seamen's unions and shipping companies also attended the media session to share their views on "The New Era of Shipping Career".
Being one of the seven largest maritime centres in the world, Hong Kong plays a very important role in the global maritime industry. However, Hong Kong, like other maritime centre countries, has been facing a shortage of maritime professionals. To encourage young people to take up the seafaring career, the federation and the Marine Department launched schemes to provide financial incentive and assistance for those who aspired to work at sea to take up seagoing training as cadets. The incentive schemes have been implemented for more than two years, and the first batch of cadets has already completed a two-year cadetship at sea. Some of them have even obtained the Class 3 Deck/Engineer Officer's qualification.
Two of the first batch of cadets have just become Hong Kong's first female junior navigation and engineering officers working on foreign going vessels. This indicates that females can also have a successful career in this industry.
Those who have completed seagoing trainings have many career options. They can work on either foreign going vessels or river trade vessels, starting their career as cadets. It takes cadets about eight years to obtain Master's or Chief Engineer's qualifications. After obtaining the professional qualifications on foreign going vessels, seafarers can turn to shore-based maritime industries and take up administrative and managerial posts, such as Marine Officer, Ship Manager, Harbour Pilot and Container Terminal Manager. They can also take up other maritime professions, such as Maritime Arbitrations, after they pursue further studies and obtain relevant professional qualifications.
Nowadays, seafaring is safe. It is a profession with attractive remuneration and bright prospects. Young people who want to be Master/ Chief Engineer in future can submit their applications to the Vocational Training Council. Early admission will be offered to application submissions before April 18. Besides, they can also join the Learning@sea Scheme run by the Star Cruises.
The federation was formed by 13 maritime unions and affiliated maritime organisations in 2002. Its objectives are to promote the maritime industry, to encourage young people to join the industry, to enhance relevant education and trainings, and to train up maritime professionals to support the port operation and maintain Hong Kong's status as an international maritime centre.
The federation took the initiative to launch a sea-going incentive scheme in 2002, providing scholarship for those who aspired to work at sea, and helping them to accomplish their dream of working onboard. Afterwards, with the full support of the Hong Kong Maritime Industry Council, the Government launched "Sea-going Training Incentive Scheme" in 2004 to provide more deck cadets and engine cadets with financial incentive, and to let more interested youngsters to benefit from it.
The Hong Kong Shipowners Association gives full support to the scheme. Their Marine Adviser, Capt. P H Lam, plays an active role and volunteers in helping college leavers, who want to join the industry, to find a job. He also helps cadets to tackle difficulties in working onboard and living at sea during their cadetship.
So far, 72 deck cadets and engine cadets have joined the "Sea-going Training Incentive Scheme".
Ends/Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:01
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