Hong Kong's shipping and port-related industry faces a severe manpower shortage in the next 10 years if training is not increased, Hong Kong Shipowners Association (HKSOA) chairman Andrew Chen says. About 100 people would be needed annually to fill posts related to shipping and port activities, Mr Chen warned. 'Students need not fear having to go to sea when taking up maritime-related jobs as there are plenty of land-related shipping jobs available,' he said after the HKSOA's annual meeting. 'Jobs can be for crew agencies, port needs, management, cargo planning and so on. Students can also study - among other things - law, accountancy, banking and insurance related to the marine industry.' Mr Chen said, however, that some students taking maritime-related courses would still need some experience on ships to ensure practical knowledge of the running of a vessel. For officers to replace their superiors, and for others to take technical jobs, sea experience was necessary. Some HKSOA members have agreed to take cadets on ships for training. Mr Chen said Hong Kong students were not attracted to maritime careers because of the low pay compared with other sectors. However, the Marine Department has proposed that the Government provide students enrolled for a maritime-related career with a subsidy to their normal allowance. Mr Chen said the proposal was being studied by the Government. In the past, the Marine Department had operated training schools and maybe they should be reopened to assist with the manpower-training programmes, he said. HKSOA director Arthur Bowring said the association played a leading role in the education of Hong Kong seafarers and diploma students through its chairmanship of both the Vocational Training Council's Maritime Services Training Board and the management committee for the Single Maritime Training Institute. 'We are concerned about the lack of young Hong Kong seafarers and the future of our port and the maritime services that depend on ex-seafarers,' he said. 'We realise that this is a common problem faced by many economies with high gross domestic product, and are studying their methods of finding ways to attract youngsters back into seafaring jobs and eventually a career ashore to see if they can be adapted for Hong Kong.' The HKSOA and the Hong Kong Port and Maritime Board are organising Maritime Hong Kong for next year in a move to attract young people to the sector. Mr Chen said the event, a joint effort between the Government and private sector, would seek the support of shipping lines, terminal operators and overseas participants to host activities. Mr Bowring said the HKSOA generally was invisible as its members' ships rarely called at Hong Kong, but were extremely active worldwide.
