The physical fitness of seafarers to do their jobs has been in the news again, with fresh concern over the number failing their medical tests. With an "obesity epidemic" said to be sweeping the developed world, it might surprise some that fish-loving Norway is finding some seafarers being classed as unfit for work because they are overweight under the widely-used but by no means infallible Body Mass Index (BMI) method.

Marine Department assistant director Dickson Dollah said although the majority of seafarers are Malaysians, the country still needs more skilled local workers.

Being text of the paper delivered in Lagos by Juvenal J.M. Shiundu, Deputy Director and head of Programme Management Section, technical co-operation division of the International Maritime Organisation in 2010.On behalf of the Secretary-General of IMO, it is indeed a honour and privilege for me to be with you today in this wonderful, vibrant city of Lagos, and to have the opportunity during the celebrations of the World Maritime Day on the “Year of the Seafarer,” to address for the second time today, on the topic “Contribution of Seafarers to the Global Economy.”

President Benigno Aquino III sought assurances from European leaders for the protection of overseas Filipino workers as he hobnobbed with his counterparts at the 9th Asia Europe Meeting. During the President's meeting with European Union officials on Monday, there was a "general acknowledgement" of Filipinos' high value contribution to the European economy, according to Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office.

The Maritime Labor Convention 2006 will take effect on the Chinese mainland starting from Aug 20, 2013, maritime officials said.The convention, which was adopted in 2006 by the International Labor Organization, is deemed as one of the major pillars of international maritime law and aims to better protect the rights of seafarers.

The crew of the Costa Concordia, which struck the island Italian island of Giglio on January 13 and capsized, have been collectively awarded the "Seafarer of the Year" award by Lloyd's List, a maritime publication. In a statement released on Thursday, Lloyd's editors explained that the award -- which is not being shared with the ship's captain, who is currently awaiting trial -- was intended as a tribute to the crew's courage in the wake of the collision.

Although the shipping market for both global and China is not good this year, the demands for shipping related talents are still huge.“Currently, there is a big shortage of personnel for high-end shipping sectors such as crews for LNG ships, large sized container ships and VLCCs,” Su Wenjin, president of Jimei University said yesterday at the Cosco-organised World Shipping (China) Summit in Xiamen. “The downturn of the shipping industry has not affected the talent demands,” Su added.“

“Human resources” is perhaps an unfortunate term, which suggests that people are a “resource” – like the luboil, antifouling or deck stores which keep a ship running! The term disguises the added value of people – the human component without which nothing, ashore or afloat, could possibly work.

The ITF and the International Shipping Federation (ISF) have applauded the entry into force in 12 months’ time of a key International Labour Organization (ILO) convention, which provides seafarers with rights and protection.The ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention 2006 was ratified by 30 ILO member states, the latest being Russia and the Philippines.

Working on ships is a "team effort". A "one-man-show" cannot run the whole ship. In order to perform operations smoothly and safety on board ships, good interpersonal relationship among seafarers is a must. As the number of people on board ships is limited, there are high chances of ego clashes and dissatisfaction among crew members. As important it is to avoid politics on ships, equally important it is to enhance interpersonal relationship between people on board to ensure that all jobs are done smoothly and safety.