Ship worker shortage may prompt changes

Korean shipyards are doing big business, but in recent years it has become tougher for ship owners to recruit crew members.
According to the Korea Shipowners’ Association, fishing vessels for overseas service have climbed by about 60 every year, totaling 618 last year, from 435 in 2003 and 566 in 2005. The association forecasts the rising momentum will continue through 2011.
Given that one vessel requires at least 20 sailors including eight mates, about 1,200 sailors should be hired annually to meet the growing demand. However, ships failed to receive any applications from entry-level sailors last year, although about 500 mates graduate from four maritime colleges and high schools annually. Worse, working crew have been leaving for other jobs.
A spokesman from a Korean firm operating vessels said graduates of maritime colleges are mandated to spend three years on board ship in return for an exemption from military service, but they immediately leave for other occupations after completing the agreement.
An official from the association said that salaries, which were once almost double those of ordinary workers at non-ocean areas, have now dropped to 1.2 to 1.5 times.
In addition, today’s younger generation is reluctant to work in an environment where they must spend months at sea.
Korea’s shipping industry is demanding that companies change regulations regarding limits on the number of foreign sailors.
Under the current rules, agreed upon by the labor union and management, one ship can have one mate and seven crew members with foreign nationalities.
“We are discussing measures to raise the number of mates to three and sailors to eight within the first half,” said a ship-owners’ association spokesman.
Along with the plan, ship companies will change internal regulations ahead of hiring a larger number of foreign crew.

By Seo Ji-eun Staff Writer [spring@joongang.co.kr]