The five Fiji Maritime Academy cadets shortlisted with Swire Pacific Ship Management (SPSM)/China Navigation Company (CNCo) the ship owning entity of the Swire Group have been of­fered employment.

FMA Director in-charge /Chief Executive Officer Mahesa Abeynayake said the five – four deck cadets and one engineering cadet were expected to start next month pending on vacancies with the company.

One is a female cadet while the other four are males.

“This is the most number we have had and hopefully another six will be absorbed by the world renowned shipping company next year,” Mr Abeynayake said.

“This definitely lifts the stand­ard and status of the academy as Fijians now know that there are opportunities for employ­ment on overseas vessels,” he said.

“Students enrolling in future can pursue better opportunities on foreign vessels and better money with such openings.

Mr Abeynayake said the re­cruitment has led to higher in­terest among Fijians to attend FMA.

“We will have more highly qualified cadets who could find em­ployment all around the world.

Four former FMA cadets are now employed on Swire Shipping vessels – two joined in 2016 and another two last year. This year nine were called in for interview in the West with the five now accepted initially shortlisted.

“Cadets will be distributed to vessels owned by SPSM/China Navigation Co (CNCo) and because they are from Fiji they will be signing on and off at the Suva port once they are engaged.

FMA has taken on board feedback from the interview as oppor­tunities for improvement to upgrade their approach in prepar­ing their cadets.