Key workshop today on National Marine HR policy

• Initiative aimed at developing an all-encompassing road map to position “Sri Lankan Seafaring” as a globally recognised brand of excellence
• Multi-stakeholder effort to boost earnings from seafarers to $ 1.5 b from $ 400 m at present and numbers from 16,000 to 50,000 by 2027

Capt. Ajith Pieris

Kalinga De Silva

The Association of Seafarer Recruiting Agents (ASRA) has joined hands with the Merchant Shipping Secretariat and the Ministry of Ports and Shipping to come up with a National Marine HR policy as an all-encompassing road map to position “Sri Lankan Seafaring” as a globally recognised brand of excellence. 

Currently, a 16,000 active pool of seafarers brings in a contribution of $ 400 million per annum approximately, across 6000 dedicated slots for Sri Lankan seafarers. 

The National Marine HR policy initiated by ASRA will focus on five areas which will commence with a workshop today with the participation of high stakeholders in the industry - the Merchant Shipping Secretariat (MSS), Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA), Lanka Association of Ship Owners (LASO), Company of Master Marines (CMM), Society of Chemical Engineers (SOChEM), Association for Maritime Training Institute (AMTI)  and National Union of Seafarers Sri Lanka (NUSS).

The workshop will focus on: Regulatory Reforms Committee; Maritime Education and Training; Segment- wise Employment Development Committee; Global Promotions and Seafarer Wellbeing and Welfare.

ASRA expects to amply the Sri Lankan seafaring numbers to 50,000 from current 16,000 by 2027 and expects to bring in an economic contribution of $ 1.5 billion with the development of tanker cruise vessel and offshore sectors alongside dry cargo segments that are already Sri Lanka’s strong hold. 

Association of Seafarer Recruiting Agents Secretary Kalinga De Silva said: “Sri Lankan Marine HR industry’s achievements thus far are a result of operational excellence from individual organisations in the past three decades or so.

“In October – 2021 we managed to have a progressive dialogue with the Merchant Shipping Secretariat (MSS) headed by Merchant Shipping Director General Ajith Senevirathne who agreed to pave a road map together with ASRA to propel the industry forward. It has been a personal aspiration to position ‘Sri Lankan Seafaring’ as a global brand of excellence and offer world class Marine HR services out of Sri Lanka for the growing global fleet.”

Association of Seafarer Recruiting Agents Chairman Capt. Ajith Pieris said: “We are very happy to initiate and take the leading role of formulating a Marine HR policy for the Sri Lankan seafarer industry. This noble profession, seafaring, has not got the due attention and recognition in Sri Lanka. People in this profession do a yeoman service to the entire world helping all countries to keep their economy moving. 

“Recently, it was observed here in Sri Lanka how important shipping is to all of us, when we were desperate to secure ships bringing much needed fuel and gas to our country. Similarly, during the time of COVID when most countries went into a mode of shut down, the ships were still plying in the high seas, transporting goods to keep the countries’ economy and people alive. All those ships are manned and operated by seafarers and there are over 16000 such Sri Lankans engaged in this profession.”

“The present crisis we face in our country is the shortage of foreign currency reserves. Our present and future seafarers joining this industry can contribute to partly overcoming this crisis by earning foreign exchange through their employment. At present our seafarers bring in approximately $ 350 million per annum to Sri Lanka through their earnings,” Capt. Peiris said.

“ASRA plans to increase the above figure to $ 1.5 billion per annum in five years by promoting and increasing the number of Sri Lankan seafarers working on foreign ships from 16000 to 50000. The Marine HR policy will primarily include the process and the tasks to achieve the above goal. Today’s workshop organised by ASRA with the involvement of industry personnel and the Ministry is the first step towards it,” he added.