Singaporean ship management company Energios has opened its first office in the Philippines to recruit local seafarers on behalf of Norwegian shipping company Wilson Ship Management.
The office in Manila is the second crewing office opened by Energios in Asia after the company began operations in Mumbai, India last year.
Energios CEO Vijay Rangroo praised Wilson’s business culture, he said: “They are a leader in short sea shipping across Europe, with demanding customers and operations, so the trust put in Energios by Wilson is worthy of gratitude and we will leave no stone unturned to perform beyond their expectations.”
The contract with Wilson will see Energios recruit staff for its 130-strong fleet of multi-purpose vessels, adding to their existing relationship for Wilson’s Future Proof Dry Cargo Vessel shipbuilding programme in India.
Wilson and Energios’ decision to turn to the Philippines for seafarer recruitment is nothing new for the maritime industry, which has historically found much of its workforce in the country, with around 25% of the global seafaring population being Filipino.
While the country has a history of contributing to the global merchant fleet and has consequently built up a strong maritime education system, shipping companies have also found the country, and Southeast Asia as a whole, to be a source of cheaper labour.
Abigail Ang, president of Energios Philippines said: “Wilson’s commitment to safety, environmental protection and crew welfare, through high quality working practices and conditions, will be welcomed by Filipino seafarers who are keen to work on ships that have such high safety and welfare standards.”
Ang’s emphasis on Wilson’s commitment to a safe working environment continues a theme in the maritime industry after the International Maritime Organisation’s new Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez told Ship Technology seafarer safety was one of his top priorities during a media briefing in February.
