Twenty-two local seafarers will be joining three foreign cargo vessels this week.

These vessels are Highland Chief, Kokopo Chief and Seaspan Hannover

Alpha Pacific Navigation Pte Ltd General Manager Saoloto Sosene said the new recruits will leave between October 30 and November 6.

The Lautoka based international manning partner has been facilitating recruitment drives of local seafarers upon the request of commercial vessel companies.

Mr Sosene said: “This year (2021) we have recruited 14 Cadets (including 4 females), 17 Ratings (including 1 female) and 3 officers from Fiji.”

“This is in addition to the 110 Fijians already in our pool.”

He added that the three cargo vessels that recruit local crews are also amongst several vessels that have frequent trips to Fiji to offload cargo.

These vessels include Coral Chief, Papuan Chief, Highland Chief, Samoa Chief, Vanuatu Chief, Maersk Nadi, Seaspan Hannover, New Guinea Chief, Shaoshing.

Mr Sosene said the new recruits will fill in the roles of Deck/Engine Officers, Deck/Engine Cadets and Deck/Engine Ratings as well as Cooks and Stewards.

He added that for local seafarers to be commercial onto these vessels, allowed Fijian seafarers to gain experience.

This also allowed local seafarers to continue to claim their place in the global labour industry.

“With the rebranded Maritime training institution in the “Fiji Maritime Academy”, Fiji is in a position to train its seafarers to meet the international standard.”

“With a well-educated young population these can take up seafarer work opportunities either in Merchant Commercial vessels or in the Tourism Cruise vessels. In addition to direct financial injection to family income and a better standard of living,” Mr Sosene said.

With crew changes taking place in Fiji, Mr Sosene added that this would contribute to lower cost of manning these vessels and cost to trade within the region.

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