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Careers Website to boost Merchant Navy
20 Mar 2008
A campaign to increase the number of Merchant Navy recruits in Scotland has been launched by Scottish Enterprise, with £250,000 initiative aimed at attracting more officer cadets into the industry.
The Scottish Enterprise initiative aims to triple the number of officer cadets joining the Merchant Navy every year.
Scotland already produces more than half of the UK Merchant Navy's officer intake but there is growing concern about the future of the industry because of current recruitment levels. Recent figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show a continuing decline in recruits and predict a further fall of 50% in Merchant Navy officers by 2021 unless action is taken.
The three-year campaign, titled 'Maritime Careers: See Where the Sea Can Take You', includes a new website, radio adverts and schools packs. It aims to increase the number of officer cadets joining the Merchant Navy every year in Scotland from 300 in 2006 to 900 by 2012.
Glasgow and the west of Scotland are recognised as a leading world centre for commercial ship management, which predominantly recruits its senior staff from experienced ex-Merchant Navy personnel. Glasgow is also home to the UK's largest Merchant Navy training company, Clyde Marine Training.
Ian McMahon, head of shipbuilding and the marine sector for Scottish Enterprise said Scotland had a great deal to gain economically and socially from a strong maritime industry. 'Scotland has a long tradition of association with the sea as a career opportunity. Scottish Enterprise believes that the country's ship management sector has the ability to continue to grow both by attracting additional third party ship management business for existing companies and by attracting new inward investment.'
Colin McMurray, general manager of Clyde Marine Training added, 'We are looking for the next generation of Merchant Navy officers who will continue working in an industry which is the lynchpin of the global economy.'
Glasgow and the west of Scotland are recognised as a leading world centre for commercial ship management, which predominantly recruits its senior staff from experienced ex-Merchant Navy personnel. Glasgow is also home to the UK's largest Merchant Navy training company, Clyde Marine Training.
Ian McMahon, head of shipbuilding and the marine sector for Scottish Enterprise said Scotland had a great deal to gain economically and socially from a strong maritime industry. 'Scotland has a long tradition of association with the sea as a career opportunity. Scottish Enterprise believes that the country's ship management sector has the ability to continue to grow both by attracting additional third party ship management business for existing companies and by attracting new inward investment.'
Colin McMurray, general manager of Clyde Marine Training added, 'We are looking for the next generation of Merchant Navy officers who will continue working in an industry which is the lynchpin of the global economy.'
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