NYK Shipmanagement Pte. Ltd. (NYKSM), the NYK Group’s Singapore-headquartered unit that provides management services for 220 vessels, has opened an office in Manila to prepare Filipino seamen for a career in helping manage vessels.
The group said the opening of the local office is in preparation for an increase in ship management services in the future and to cultivate a diversified career path for Filipino seafarers, who make up a bulk of the manpower on NYK vessels.
NYKSM, which opened the Manila office at the Mary Bachrach building in Port Area on May 25, said by involving in onshore operations for ship management at the office, Filipino seafarers can build comprehensive careers as maritime technologists within the NYK Group.
“To provide safe, high-quality transportation services to customers, the NYK Group strives to educate and secure seafarers with high professional competency the world over, and to establish a solid structure to enable the NYK Group to further ensure safe shipping operations,” the company said.
The company was set up 10 years ago and has since opened a maritime school in the country that focuses on securing and educating high-quality seafarers.
NYK and the Transnational Diversified Group (TDG) opened NYK-TDG Maritime Academy (NTMA) in the Philippines in 2007, ahead of the establishment of any similar facility by any other shipping company.
In its medium-term management plan, “More Than Shipping 2013” launched on March 31 last year, NYK announced its strategy to foster superior seafarers –– centering on NTMA — who can act as a core for a safe ship operation system and to differentiate NYK services from others through the seafarers’ high degree of professional competency.
NYK said the establishment of the Manila office enables a full range of activities to be conducted within the Philippines, ranging from the education, training, and provision of seafarers through to ship management services.
Moreover, by promoting smooth communication and speedy feedback between responsible members, NYK will establish a structure that will further ensure safe operation for NYK vessels.
By taking advantage of this opportunity, NYK will proactively employ Filipino seafarers in higher-ranking positions on all types of vessels including very large containerships, very large crude-oil carriers (VLCCs), and LNG carriers, and accelerate its strategy to position them as the cadre of its senior-officer group.
NYKSM’s Manila officewas established in April this year initially to manage eight vessels. The company aims to increase the number of managed vessels in the future.
The company said the type of ship it will manage is dry bulkers, but the company is also considering the possible management of containerships, car carriers, and tankers.
Source: Malaya