THE FUTURE OF BANGLADESH

1. Improving the
employability of seafarers
through capacity building
in Maritime Education and
Training (MET):
TR CHANCHAL
BB-041

2. Problem Statement
• Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries with almost 160 million
people who have a small territory .
• 47 percent of the University pass out students are unemployed
• Its about 70 percent mariners are jobless in Bangladesh (BMA)
• There will be a shortage of up to 32,000 seafarers by 2020.
• Bangladeshi perspective, this is an excellent opportunity to stand out in the development
of maritime labour
• But the problem is our country does not have a strong presence in the maritime labor
market.
• Here I focus on MET in order to acquire a significant part of this deficit of seafarers

3. Objective
• What are the reasons that determines employability of mariners in the global
labour market?
• What are the limitations of Bangladesh Seafarers?
• What should be the appropriate role of MET in order to support the
competitiveness of Bangladeshi seafarers?
Historical Background
• As shown this Figure, about 3574
Mariners are qualified from Bangladesh
out of 6000 mariners
• But now in 2017 the condition of
Maritime sectors totally vice versa,
most of the Bangladesh Mariners
are jobless.
6000
5000
4000
3000
Officers
Ratings
200
0
100
0
2005 2011 2014

4. Employment Skills of Bangladesh Seafarers
• In-depth knowledge, problem-solving skill and sense of responsibility;
• Leadership and teamwork skill
• Communication skill
• Indefatigable spirit
• Adaptation in multi-cultural environment
• Prudence and foresight
• Situational awareness skill
• Physical fitness and
• Good commanding skill
This are also not enough, We have to more focus on Metrological
information, safety issues, machinery room machinery, cargo handling
equipment, crew management, national and international legislation and
maritime trade issues

5. Factors that Determine the Employability of
Seafarers
• High-quality mariner must be characterized by various soft skills to be
competitive in the current maritime labour market like……..
Seafarers are expected to have an indefatigable spirit
Adaptability to the multicultural environment
prudence and foresight &
Capacity to raise awareness of the situation.
On the other hand, navigation is a work based on skills. It is quite sure that,
seafarers should have several skills and attributes, such as in-depth knowledge,
problem-solving skills, sense of responsibility, leadership and teamwork skills,
English-speaking and communication skills, and physical fitness.
In terms of the Bangladeshi seafarers, the investigation included the third factor.

6. Limitations of Bangladeshi Seafarers
• For many years the restriction of Visa in several countries
• We are not getting VISA in time and sometimes it takes 3 days to 3
months, whereas other marine nationals get VISA by 1 day.
• Sign off is not permitted by foreign port Authority. There are many ports
such as Indian ports, some European ports and some middle-east ports in
which Bangladeshi seafarers cannot sign on or off.
• Training quality as per latest maritime policy is not up to the mark. Our
seafarers are not familiar with latest regulation and change.
• Attitude and behaviour of the seafarer are not professional.
• Not completing contract as per agreement.
• Health-related problem.
• The Originality of documents.

7. Limitations of Bangladeshi Seafarers
• Marketing to shipping owner.
• Shipping office formalities.
• For joining a ship, our seafarers are not giving readiness as per owner’s
expectation. Due to this, the owner cannot make a plan for a smooth crew
change on the ship.
• Desertion at various ports and not co-operating with management during
sign off.
Poor governance, lack of transparency and accountability coupled with
corruption by government agencies have created poor images of Bangladeshi
countries, which may negatively affect the employability of Bangladeshi
seafarers

8. Limitations of Bangladeshi Seafarers
More importantly, the analysis of the data suggests that the inadequate
MET system, together with inadequate evaluation and certification
process, is the main obstacle to the employability of the Bangladeshi
seafarers.

9. Appropriate Role of MET
• The quality of modern Technology in a ship is very high, but our
mariners limited with their old technology, it is necessary to study
recent MET trends to develop an effective MET system in the country
Application of the quality standards system:
• Private Marine Engineering Technology Institution need to be
standard
Employment of skilled and experienced labour:
• The administration of MET in Bangladesh should ensure that
compensation and benefits policies reward faculties in a competitive
and equitable manner.

10. Appropriate Role of MET
Review of the curriculum:
• MET institutions must evaluate and update their curriculum, taking
into account social, technological and educational changes
throughout the world.
Standardization of the MET with the national
curriculum:
• The Bangladeshi government must take the program, necessary steps
to restructure the current 3-year MET program into a 4-year bachelor.
Training on board of cadets:
• The period of maritime training is of the utmost importance to
improve technical skills. Shipping department should confirm it.

11. Appropriate Role of MET
Improved use of simulators:
• MET institutions in Bangladesh should develop a comprehensive training
program that includes the evaluation procedure, incorporating simulation
technology
Soft skills development:
• MET institutions in Bangladesh should establish clear objectives regarding
the development of interpersonal skills, and maintain an organizational
culture to achieve those objectives.
Maintenance of the industry's feedback mechanism:
• Bangladesh MET institutions must maintain an industry feedback
mechanism

12. Appropriate Role of MET
Acquisition of a training vessel:
• For Bangladesh, it will be a luxury to get a boat for training purposes only.
As such, the proposal made by the Bangladeshi Maritime Academy, for the
government to acquire a general cargo ship with extra passenger capacity,
seems to be practical.
Also 'Distance learning /e-learning‘ should be ensured by MET
institution
Finally ,I would like to request our honourable PRIME MINISTER to more
focus on our Maritime Sector, Otherwise one day this sector we will never
found in Bangladesh.
“THANK YOU”