Amidst report of mass layoff and global financial crisis, seamen can still be confident that there will be jobs available for them. The seafaring industry remains strong as job opportunities for seafarers continue to pour in.

In fact, according to the president of United Filipino Seafarers (UFS), Nelson Ramirez, the shipping industry would need around 12,000 seafarers until 2012.

Filipino seamen are assured that they will get the job because they are well- known for their excellent work ethics.

Ramirez said that while other industries that largely depend on export face tough times due to the economic crisis, the shipping sector is unaffected.

Ina an interview, the UFS president said, “It’s impossible to be jobless (in the shipping industry). Even if some foreign vessels reduce their trips this year due to the slowing down of world trade, affected seafarers could be easily absorbed by new vessels that would be built up until 2012.”

The 12,000 jobs waiting for RP seamen are not all. Ramirez predicts that upon the launching of new bottoms or vessels, another 140,000 new maritime jobs would be created.

Ramirez added, “The new commissioned international vessels will require at least 15 to 23 crews each, including the ship captain.”

The monthly salary of an ordinary seaman ranges from USD500 to USD800 or Php23657.5 to Php37852. On the other hand, a ship captain, gets a salary of USD8, 000 to USD12,000 or Php 378520 to 567780 every month.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque predicts that Norway and Denmark would need around 13,000 seafarers and the two European countries are eyeing the Philippines to fill their manpower demand.

Also, ISL Bremen and the Clarkson Research Studies said that a total of 7,360 new vessels would be ready before 2010. All of the ships would need a crew of 23 seafarers or a total demand of 147,160 seamen.

See the latest job openings for Seafarers at WorkAbroad.ph