SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE PHILIPPINE MANNING

The Manning industry known as the recruiter and selector of Filipino seafarers to foreign ship-owners for the purpose of manning their oceangoing commercial vessels is on the crossroads in ensuring that the Philippines known as the manning capital of the world would sustain the market leadership of the Philippines in the global ship-crewing industry by constructively addressing a complex of internal issues that threaten competitiveness. While such is a perfectly legitimate aspiration, the larger goal must equally pay attention to the enormous pressures imposed by the external environment, mainly the matter of competition and non-traditional opportunities which emerge within the manning sector, including its direct links with the global maritime industry in which it thrives.

The seafarers, predominantly men in the deck and engine positions but joined by a significant number of women in cruise ships, are deployed through the manning companies which select, hire and train them by virtue of contracts with the overseas operators or owners. Filipino seafarers are widely acknowledged by foreign ship-owners, called principals, for their ability to sail and operate merchant ships of all types with efficiency, safety, and general cost-effectiveness. This paper presents an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that are facing the Philippine Manning Industry for the year 2014-2015.