Foreign crew taking over

[Unregistered]

I don't mean to sound xenophobic, but recently I have seen many patterns of cheaper labour taking the jobs from us more expensive options. Will I be able to have a long sea career? Why would companies take us Brits on when there are thousands of 3rd world people willing to do the job for much less?

I have recently been reading stories online, including this site, where Norwegians are being replaces by Filipinos at a fast rate. When will this happen to us Brits? In my town there are a few cross channel dry cargo vessels with 100% Filipino crew.

It took me a while to find a job once qualified as I didn't have experience. There aren't actually that many jobs out there for us Brits at the moment. Is this only going to get worse?

Every time I bring this up some people play the racism card. But I'm being as realistic as possible.

[Unregistered]

I read the original post to this thread, shame about it being edited like that.

I too, have concerns of this. I finished my cadetship a couple of years ago and even on the coastal ships most of them are crewed by other nationalities. Will I have a job in 10 years time or will I have to accept Philipino wages?

[Clanky]

but recently I have seen many patterns of cheaper labour taking the jobs from us more expensive options.

How exactly are they taking the jobs from us? who decided that they were our jobs in the first place, or are Brits somehow more entitled to jobs than Filipinos?

Quite impressed that you managed to read the original post before it was approved.

[Unregistered]

How exactly are they taking the jobs from us? who decided that they were our jobs in the first place, or are Brits somehow more entitled to jobs than Filipinos?

Quite impressed that you managed to read the original post before it was approved.

If a vessel is mainly operating in UK waters, then the jobs should be for locals. But this is of course racist saying it, as Britain is filled with pushovers. But then again why should any job in the UK be given to Brits? Why not let anyone else from all over the world have these jobs?

It doesn't matter that employers are excluding Brits and helping increase unemployment for the British.

Just by clicking on where you edited it.

[thatwillbenice]

I would say Brits should be more entitled to jobs on British ships operating in British waters. We need a US Jones Act style of legislation here.

[Clanky]

Just by clicking on where you edited it.

Ah OK, wasn't aware that that was available to everyone.

So I assume that you would refuse to take a job on a ship which was mostly working in another country then?

[YoungMariner]

Perhaps there needs to be a point at which the EU closes its doors and says that ships which primarily operate in the EU (as mentioned earlier, similar to the jones act in some respects) are EU registered and manned vessels and adhere to EU labour laws and professional standards. Not to exclude other nationalities for protectionism, but to be able to enforce and maintain a minimum standard within EU waters.

As a British seafarer the opportunities are far greater then most nationalities, and the maritime world is a global one. With an OOW ticket and a trip as OOW, its unlikely you will ever be out of work.

[laura]

My last ship was British flagged and now I've left there are no British seafarers onboard. There are more ships with a British flag in my fleet than we have British seafarers in the company. A little bit of protection for local positions so that the next generation have a decent paying skilled job to go into isn't necessarily a bad thing. The 'global' argument is of benefit to shipowners but not so much for those workers from traditional maritime nations and often doesn't benefit cheaper labour countries either with poor onboard conditions and nightmare ships.

Have we any more right to a job than a Filippino seafarer onboard a British flagged ship? What a strange question, does the same question get asked in other countries outside Europe I wonder?

This debate comes up again and again on this site. The people who shout 'nonsense' are those who are already into their career, those who shout 'but it's true' are usually the more recently qualified struggling to get their foot on the ladder. I tend to agree with the latter because that's been my experience of being at sea so far.

Shipping is global, yes, but it seems completely wrong to me that an entire crew can be fired and sent down the gangway while another crew is waiting on the quayside because they're a little bit cheaper. And why is it okay onboard a ship, but imagine you did this on land? In an office, the teachers in a school, the workers in a shop? Global... it's a poor excuse in a country struggling with youth employment.

I expect no-one to agree with me but I'm standing my ground. British ships with British seafarers, cadets with jobs upon qualifying, crazy eh?!

[chris]

well I agree with laura

[Unregistered]

My last ship was British flagged and now I've left there are no British seafarers onboard. There are more ships with a British flag in my fleet than we have British seafarers in the company. A little bit of protection for local positions so that the next generation have a decent paying skilled job to go into isn't necessarily a bad thing. The 'global' argument is of benefit to shipowners but not so much for those workers from traditional maritime nations and often doesn't benefit cheaper labour countries either with poor onboard conditions and nightmare ships.

Have we any more right to a job than a Filippino seafarer onboard a British flagged ship? What a strange question, does the same question get asked in other countries outside Europe I wonder?

This debate comes up again and again on this site. The people who shout 'nonsense' are those who are already into their career, those who shout 'but it's true' are usually the more recently qualified struggling to get their foot on the ladder. I tend to agree with the latter because that's been my experience of being at sea so far.

Shipping is global, yes, but it seems completely wrong to me that an entire crew can be fired and sent down the gangway while another crew is waiting on the quayside because they're a little bit cheaper. And why is it okay onboard a ship, but imagine you did this on land? In an office, the teachers in a school, the workers in a shop? Global... it's a poor excuse in a country struggling with youth employment.

I expect no-one to agree with me but I'm standing my ground. British ships with British seafarers, cadets with jobs upon qualifying, crazy eh?!

I fully agree with you Laura. Here in the UK we seem completely insane at times, such as the freedom of movement for any EU nationals. The Americans are more sensible and actually look after their own people first.

There's not a lot anyone can do on this forum to stop it, and it will happen eventually. But for those who think it is not a problem, lets wait and see what they say when their company starts hiring cheaper labour over them.

I would strongly advise any potential cadets not to enter this industry, as the British Merchant Navy doesn't have many years left.

[YoungMariner]

The idea of British jobs for British seafarers is an impossible pipe dream, primarily because we are part of the EU and that is unlikely to change. If the UK were to act alone in demanding only EU seafarers served onboard it's vessels like Australia and the USA, the quantity of UK flagged vessels would go the same way as those countries and the tonnage tax and cadetships would dry up completely.
The only way forward would be for an EU wide restriction as I described earlier.

Seafaring as a career is still a possibility for British guys and the job potential of a newly qualified OOW is probably a great deal better then a freshly qualified aircraft pilot (ATPL frozen), graduate lawyer or a graduate in general. The jobs aren't on a plate, you do have to fight for them to some extent, but certain types of shipping do want 1st world trained seafarers and also to feed many of the shoreside jobs for guys with a seafaring background.
There is work there, it's not as plentiful as we'd like, but there is no easy fix for that through legislation.

[Unregistered]

Kind of laughed at your original post as you are so naive you don't think this racist or discrimination.

[Clanky]

While I don't agree with the OP I don't think the comments are racist.

[Unregistered]

Kind of laughed at your original post as you are so naive you don't think this racist or discrimination.

how is this in any way racist?? Going by your logic, the merchant navy is racist against white people.

[Clanky]

OK, I have approved the last post, however, no more, if this turns into a bickering match between too people who aren't going to man up and post as registered users then the thread will be closed.

By all means discuss the issue, but there is no need for petty name calling and arguing.