First seamen hired on Liberian ships
Singaporean shipping company in the Far East has agreed to hire the first batch of 16 Liberian seafarers on eight of its vessels plying international waters with Liberians flags, New Democrat reports.
NOS Ship-Management is an ISO-9001: 2008 certified ship management company, operating in Singapore and Panama controlling Liberian flag vessels, which include oil tankers, bulk carriers and other cargo vessels.
During a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed Tuesday between the NOS Shipping Company of Singapore and the United Seamen Ports & General Workers Union of Liberia (USPOGUL), Seafarers Section, the President of Seafarers Section of Liberia, Mother T. Kpumeh said Liberians seafarers could start getting hired as early as January 2012.
"We are calling on all Liberian Flag state ships to emulate the good example of the NOS Shipping Company for providing employment for the Liberian Seafarers. We hope that this process will continue in order to have more than 3,000 Liberian seafarers employed on board sea going vessels plying the Liberian Flag," Kpumeh said.
After fourteen years of unemployment of Liberian seafarers, she noted: "This was a great opportunity for Liberian seafarers that one of the shipping companies from the Far East registered under the Liberian Flag has given us the opportunity for seafarers' employment on their vessels, "
In remarks, Liberia Maritime Authority (LMA) Commissioner Beyan Kesselly praised the Liberian Seafarers, who he said, "practically harassed" the NOS to hire Liberians.
"As we anticipate more Liberian registered shipping companies to follow the example of NOS, the LMA will step up its training of seafarers so they are available when the need arises," Mr. Kesselly added.
Other Seafarer officials present at the Collective Bargaining ceremony included Mr. Freeman T. Gueh, president, United Seamen Union; Arthur S. Massaquoi, secretary-general, United Seamen Union and Rev. Fr. Edward K. Gbe, port chaplain.
NOS Ship-Management is an ISO-9001: 2008 certified ship management company, operating in Singapore and Panama controlling Liberian flag vessels, which include oil tankers, bulk carriers and other cargo vessels.
During a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed Tuesday between the NOS Shipping Company of Singapore and the United Seamen Ports & General Workers Union of Liberia (USPOGUL), Seafarers Section, the President of Seafarers Section of Liberia, Mother T. Kpumeh said Liberians seafarers could start getting hired as early as January 2012.
"We are calling on all Liberian Flag state ships to emulate the good example of the NOS Shipping Company for providing employment for the Liberian Seafarers. We hope that this process will continue in order to have more than 3,000 Liberian seafarers employed on board sea going vessels plying the Liberian Flag," Kpumeh said.
After fourteen years of unemployment of Liberian seafarers, she noted: "This was a great opportunity for Liberian seafarers that one of the shipping companies from the Far East registered under the Liberian Flag has given us the opportunity for seafarers' employment on their vessels, "
In remarks, Liberia Maritime Authority (LMA) Commissioner Beyan Kesselly praised the Liberian Seafarers, who he said, "practically harassed" the NOS to hire Liberians.
"As we anticipate more Liberian registered shipping companies to follow the example of NOS, the LMA will step up its training of seafarers so they are available when the need arises," Mr. Kesselly added.
Other Seafarer officials present at the Collective Bargaining ceremony included Mr. Freeman T. Gueh, president, United Seamen Union; Arthur S. Massaquoi, secretary-general, United Seamen Union and Rev. Fr. Edward K. Gbe, port chaplain.