Demand, Supply, and Opportunity (in Marine Transportation)
At the turn of the century when the marine transportation and offshore petroleum
industries in Eastern Canada were beginning to experience an upturn, marine sector
studies (local and international) uniformly indicated a growing worldwide downturn
in the availability of marine personnel (particularly ships’ officers).
Marine workforce analyses updated every five years by the Baltic and International
Marine Council and the International Shipping Federation (BIMCO/ISF) identified
a shortfall of 16,000 ships’ officers in 2000, with a projected shortfall of 46,000
by 2010. By 2008, the estimated shortfall stood at 34,000 with a projected shortfall
of 46,000 – 65,000 over the next few years.
Despite the significant increase in demand, these studies also pointed to a dramatic
decrease in supply in OECD countries, with China emerging to supplant OECD countries
as the leading supplier of ships’ officers.
These studies clearly indicated a recruitment and retention problem for marine related
industries, but they also identified a significant human resource development opportunity
for Eastern Canada. While residents of OECD countries generally were showing an
increasing reluctance to pursue marine careers, graduates of the Newfoundland and
Labrador’s Marine Institute and other marine training institutions in Eastern Canada
were not only showing a willingness to go to sea but were also finding rewarding
careers and winning acclaim, both locally and internationally.
The fact that the shift system of shipboard life encourages commuting to work regardless
of place of residence has enabled mariners from Eastern Canada to excel nationally
and internationally while choosing overwhelmingly to continue residing in their
home province, primarily in the rural communities. In doing so, they contribute
significantly to economic development and rural sustainability while also gaining
the critical international, or deep sea, experience needed to assume leadership
positions at home in industries such as those associated with offshore oil development
projects.
While the shortage of ships’ officers is particularly pronounced, developments and
projected developments in the marine transportation and offshore petroleum industries
in Eastern Canada have created, and continue to create, significant numbers of shore-based
marine career opportunities, including management, clerical, design, maintenance,
and other technical and technological positions.
Eastern Canada enjoys a unique advantage in having a strong maritime heritage and
an internationally recognized marine training capability. The factors inhibiting
Eastern Canada’s ability to take full advantage of the opportunity provided by the
growing shortage of marine personnel and projected industry growth include training
capacity, public awareness, and the lack of a cohesive approach to human resource
issues in the marine sector.
The Marine Career Opportunities report (See COMPASS Library) contains detailed information
on the demand and supply of marine transportation occupations and opportunities
in Eastern Canada and internationally.