(EnergyAsia, March 20, Wednesday) — ‘Seafarers 2008’, an event by IBC Maritime, will be held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront, Singapore from May 7 to 8.

The conference will focus on manning issues with an emphasis on the emerging sources of seafarers. It aims to present insights and strategies that will support operations, capital cost and management policies.

The conference will provide delegates with updates on the current global outlook for seafarers and the growing demands of a high quality crew, a better understanding of South East Asia as an emerging source for seafarers, knowledge on supply issues, government legislation, analysis of the current industry standards for manpower training and the implications of this shortage and insights to strategies used to attract talents, retain qualified officers and maximise crew effectiveness.
 
Speakers include Sunil Nangia (Sailor Today), Brian Martis (V Ships Group), Yeow Kok Kean (Neptune Shipmanagement Services Pte Ltd), Ole B Stene (Aboitiz-Jebsen Bulk Transport Inc), Ko Ko Latt (Gulf Shipping Management Company Limited), Aung W in (Pacific Carriers Myanmar Ltd), Ravi Sinha (Thome Shipmanagemen), Anurag Singh Bakhshi (Pt. Mercator Services), Marlon R. Rono (Magsaysay Maritime Corporation), Dang Van Uy (Vietnam Maritime University), D o Hung D uong (Vietnam National Shipping Lines), Liu Shi Jun (Sinocrew Maritime Services Co Ltd),

 Andrew J Airey (Thoresen Thai Agencies Public Company Limited), Charles Jay D ela Cruz (Del Rosario & Del Rosario), KN D eboo (Anglo Eastern Maritime Training Centre), Rajaish Bajpaee (Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement), Robert Drummond and Wendy Ng (Charles Taylor Mutual Management), Amit Pal (A.P Moller Singapore Pte Ltd), Vijay Rangroo (MTM Shipmanagement Pte Ltd) and Jesse W. Lewis (Admiralty Associates International).

A pre- conference workshop on ‘The Public Image of Shipping’ will be held on May 6. It will discuss approaches to help reshape the negative and dated image of the maritime industry.

With the current shortage of qualified crew, the ocean transportation industry requires more trained and experienced seafarers.

Jesse Lewis, course director and communications expert, will demonstrate ways to raise awareness and appeal of shipping as a career.

Topics that will be covered include public’s view of shipping, ways to improve the shipping image, perception of  shipping in comparison to other forms of transportation, making shipping a more attractive choice and engaging the media and public to enhance the maritime’s sector profile.

Jesse Lewis was a Visiting Professor at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy for 10 years, where he lectured on the public image of the shipping industry and using public relations as an effective crisis management tool following major marine casualties.

For more information on ‘Seafarers 2008’, please contact Admin@EnergyAsia.com.