Sharjah, April 17th,2007 (WAM) -- The global shipping industry is in themidst of a serious manpower crisis, according to Capt. M. Athar Shafique,Vice Principal of the Karachi-based Maritime Training Institute, and aspeaker at the Gulf Maritime Conference that was held at Expo Centre Sharjah today.

?The shipping industry has witnessed unprecedented technological advancementin hardware during the recent past,? said Capt. Shafique at the Conference.

?But I regret to say that our advancement has been fairly limited onlyto the hardware component of the shipping industry and we have neglectedthe software component that is sufficient qualified skilled manpower,?he said.

Capt. Shafique said that the shipping industry across the world providedlivelihood to over 1.2 million people. The growth of the industry howeverwas not proportionate with the increase in manpower, he pointed out.

According to industry reports, the world?s merchant fleet suffers a continuousshortage of around 10,000 qualified officers or 2% of the total globalofficer workforce.

Among the reasons given at the Conference for the shortage of seafarerswere lack of motivation to join ship as seafarer, lack of sponsorshipfrom shipping companies for training future workforce, lack of sea berthsfor cadets to complete their sea time, stressful working conditions onboard, criminalisation of seafarers, employment barriers placed by flagstates, increase in number of ships worldwide, and increase in high-techor specialised ships.

Capt. Shafique also attributed the shortage of seafarers to the lack ofmaritime institutes capable of producing cadets.

Remedies suggested at the Conference included improvement of working conditionsof seafarers, increase in manpower recruitment globally, better wagesand long term financial benefits like pension, providing sea berths totrained seafarers, quality training of seafarers, and improvement in retentionrate of seafarers.

The one-day Gulf Maritime Conference was held alongside the Gulf MaritimeExhibition.

The Exhibition is displaying Deck machinery and other vessel equipment,Docking equipment, Electronics, Communication and navigation systems,Engine and propulsion systems, Fuel and lubricants, Ride control systems,Sound and vibration control systems, Marine interiors, Paints and coatings,latest vessel building designs and technology, equipment for fishing,Offshore support vessels, cargo ships, tankers, tugs, ferries, and patrolboats, Ship repair and port operations products, and Cargo handling services.

It is open till April 18, 2007. Theevent is an initiative of Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of theSharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).