UĦM Voice of the Workers eMagazine issue 37

VOICE OF THE

WORKERS ISSUE 37 SEPTEMBER 2014

Contents

THE MARITIME OPPORTUNITY Malta has always been a maritime nation. We have always depended on the sea to maintain our links with the world. In the past, our ports served as havens for trade as well as for war. Our strategic position in the centre of the Mediterranean was sought after by every military and trade superpower that wanted supremacy over Mediterranean routes.

Today, Malta is still heavily reliant on the maritime sector. Most of our cargo in and out of the country passes through Malta’s ports, together with a sizeable proportion of people that come VOICE OF THE

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and go on some of the world’s biggest cruise liners. Our maritime sector is also a feeder industry, and provides countless other sectors with crucial economic benefits.

It is ironic that although the Maritime sector in Malta is so strategic, the number of Maltese workers in this sector is steadily declining. This has definitely not been brought about by any shrinkage of the industry. Far from it. This industry is steadily growing, the demand for workers is ever present, but the supply of the right kind of Maltese workers is clearly lacking.

The Maritime Crossroads of the Med

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Steering towards excellence

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The EU’s Maritime Sector

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Malta: A Maritime Vocation

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Maritime Initiatives

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Video

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EDITOR’S NOTE JOSEF VELLA

There are a variety of reasons behind such an issue. There seems to be a mismatch between what is being demanded by the sector and the Maltese worker skillset. Although the educational sector is providing some courses that lead to maritime qualifications, we are still far off from providing an educational system that can state that it is fully and squarely providing workers for this important industry. There is also the issue of priorities. As a country, we have placed considerable emphasis on the aviation industry, amongst other sectors. This, in itself, is not wrong, as the aviation industry is 1

EDITORIAL

also of strategic importance for Malta. However, the Maritime industry needs to move up in our list of priorities as a country.

There may be also a cultural issue.

Life aboard ships is not exactly easy, although conditions have improved immensely over the years. Also, a seafarer spends considerable time away from home. All these aspects may contribute to people taking less interesting in seafaring careers.

Seafaring might not be for everyone. But there are many people who might be attracted to a career at sea, if only this sector was promoted well enough at a young age. The promotional aspect, especially at a young age, cannot be ignored if we are to be successful in this sector.

efforts to tune our workers’ abilities to the demands of the industry. We need to have better information that we can use to enable Malta to update its policy for employment in the Maritime sector. The opportunities are there. We need to work together well to seize them.

The maritime sector is a huge employment opportunity for Malta. We need to step up our

The Maritime Crossroads of the Med Whether it’s people or cargo, Malta lies at the heart of shipping in the Mediterranean. The Maritime sector is vital to Malta. This means that we need to step up our efforts not just to derive economic benefit from Maritime operations in Malta, but also to exploit this sector’s employment potential.

There are significant opportunities for viable and exciting career paths that will benefit the right people, their families as well as the country in general. Better promotion amongst young people, together with a better fit between demand for skills and their supply, can contribute to increased benefit from a sector that to Malta should come natural.

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INTERVIEW: CAPT. JESMOND MIFSUD

Steering towards

excellence How important is the Maritime sector to Malta?

As an island, the sea has always been a very important resource for us. Moreover, because of our strategic location in the centre of the Mediterranean, we are a natural hub for a very busy shipping route. The maritime sector consists of a variety of direct activities, such as merchant shipping and tourism, including cruise liners, yachts and superyachts . The largest share of cargo movements come and go through shipping, not just into and out of Malta, but also as a transhipment hub. Our Freeport handled 2.7 million TEU (twenty foot equivalent unit) in 2013 alone. Apart from direct activities, there are also support services to the industry, such as pilotage, VOICE OF THE

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tug boats, ship repair, chandlery services, fuel, the port authorities, and others. Other service sectors also benefit: insurance, legal, financial and others. Malta is also a major ship and yacht registration hub, and is the largest ship register in Europe.

The Malta Maritime Pilots are considered to be a very important stakeholder in the sector.

Moreover, you have grown into one of Malta’s most successful cooperative businesses in Malta.

How are you achieving this success?

I would say that what we have achieved so far can be boiled down to four aspects, namely, vision, working together, investment and the search for

Interview with Capt. Jesmond Mifsud, Chief Pilot, Malta Maritime Pilots Co-operative

excellence. The role of the pilot in this sector is very important, especially when dealing with maritime safety as well as the protection of the environment.

Our task is to assist captains of vessels in approaching and leaving Malta’s ports by using our knowledge of local maritime conditions as well as experience in navigating in restricted waters. In this way, we help optimise traffic in our ports, ensuring that risks are controlled. We can proudly say that to date, our safety record has been 100%, and we intend to keep it that way. To do this, we invest heavily in equipment and training.

We own seven pilot boats, and have invested in state of the art simulator training facilities, that enable us as well as other players in the industry to sharpen our 3

FEATURE STORY

skills. We are now offering training to overseas clients as well.

What can be done to encourage more young people to choose a career in the maritime sector?

The maritime sector is a very significant employment opportunity for Malta. Admittedly, seafaring is not for everyone.

But I believe that we can do more to find the right people.

Unfortunately, we have not given

this aspect the importance it deserves, with the consequence that the number of qualified Maltese Master Mariners has decreased drastically. If nothing is done soon, we will not have enough Master Mariners to replace the ones who are retiring.

I strongly believe that we can do much more by way of promoting the maritime sector in Malta. We need to start with

THE MARITIME SECTOR IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR MALTA. ADMITTEDLY, SEAFARING IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO MORE TO FIND THE RIGHT PEOPLE. VOICE OF THE

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schools and the educational system. Our children need to be aware of the existence of the maritime industry and the career paths that exist. Also, we need to address the information deficit we have on this sector.

We need to establish the divergences we have between the demands of the sector and the skills available, and how we can bridge the gap. Promotion will also help in bringing back to the fore the importance of this sector to Malta. For example, we actively support the successful television series Harbourlife as it helps in promoting the maritime sector to the general public. Most people are not aware of the realities, challenges and opportunities in this sector.

I believe that the players in the industry , together with government, can also cooperate more together to promote the sector more effectively.

What future do you see for the maritime sector in Malta?

The future is certainly exciting.

With or without us, the sector will increase in importance, and will change according to the demands of the sector and the economy. I believe that we can be protagonists in these changes. To do this, we need to be proactive and look ahead. The maritime industry is a fantastic employment opportunity, as well as of great economic and social benefit.

We can work together more to harness these opportunities to our benefit. To achieve this, however, we need to tirelessly work towards excellence in everything we do. This is our best bet on being successful .

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MEUSAC THE EU’S MARITIME SECTOR

THE EU’S MARITIME SECTOR The maritime sector in the European Union (EU) is a vibrant one. So much so that when it comes to transport and industrial policies, the maritime industry is one of the main sectors in Europe. This is because it creates jobs within the sector but also due to its ancillary nature in job creation within the same industry.

According to a 2008 European Commission report on maritime clusters these services already accounted for a direct production value of €267 billion.

Through the EU‘s Integrated Maritime Policy, maritime issues are provided with a more consistent approach and with increased coordination between different policy areas. This policy focuses on “blue growth” which is economic growth based on different maritime sectors. It also focuses on issues that require the coordination of different sectors and actors e.g. marine knowledge.

The European Commission constantly monitors the shipbuilding sector from a strategic point of view.

With cooperation from the stakeholders, it undertakes suitable strategies to further

encourage the development of this sector in Europe and enhance its competitiveness. Shipping is already the most environmentally friendly mode of transport in the EU however further reductions of emissions to air and water continue to be necessary. The implementation of forthcoming global and European regulation on topics like ballast water, sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions as well as action on climate change are sure to offer important market opportunities for the European marine equipment suppliers and shipyards.

The Commission has also regulated the recreational craft sector in provisions of safety and environmental standards, administrative procedures and production and design requirements.

The European Commission also holds a yearly stakeholder conference on May 20 which is European Maritime Day. Its aim is to provide an occasion to highlight the crucial role that oceans and seas play in the everyday life of EU citizens. The European Maritime Day Conference 2013 was held in Malta.

Malta has a long maritime tradition that goes back thousands of years and currently has the largest ship register in Europe. Transport Malta stated that in 2013 Malta’s ship registry had grown by 13.6%. As a result, Malta is now the largest merchant flag in the EU and the seventh worldwide.

Since 2012 there has also been a growth of 18.1% in super yacht registration, with a total of 398 super yachts registered under the Maltese flag at the end of the year 2013.

Malta and other European states have faced stiff pressure from other international competition.

However, the industry is robust and has gone through several structural changes. This will augur a strong future for the maritime industry as it is a sector that creates jobs. It also has a notable contribution towards the ecological renewal of the economic system and it can also play a major role in establishing an integrated European transport system.

Undoubtedly the maritime sector will continue to assume a substantial value in EU policy making.

MEUSAC 280 Republic Street, Valletta VLT 1112 Tel: +356 2200 3315 • Fax: +356 2200 3329 • Email: info.meusac@gov.mt www.meusac.gov.mt VOICE OF THE

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MCESD MALTA: A MARITIME VOCATION

Malta: A Maritime Vocation The Maltese archipelago is blessed with a central geographical position within the Mediterranean region. This which has ultimately crowned the Maltese islands a centre of maritime excellence. The maritime sector is an important and innovative driver of our economy which employs a good number of professionals and skilled workers.

The yachting and berthing industry is a viable economic niche for Malta which has progressively been developing over the recent years with an undeniably positive contribution to the local economy. Malta aims to add value to the industry by trying to attract foreign and local owners to sail in Malta, berth in summer and repair in winter. There is a good number of yacht marinas in Malta, almost all of which are situated within a picturesque backdrop of fortifications, bastions and harbours. Government, in

cooperation with private sector, needs to cater for the ever growing demand for berths especially during the summer months. Talks are currently underway for a further marina to be built in Gozo so that the sister island can also increase its berthing capacity and be more accessible. Another initiative is the cruise passenger terminal in Gozo which will help in boosting tourism on the island.

Malta is able to provide various services for the international maritime industry. The Maltese Islands boast a reputable flag in accordance with European and international standards balanced with fiscal advantages and maritime services. The strength and successes of the Maltese maritime flag are endless and today it ranks as the 7th largest ship register globally.

The Malta Freeport is a transhipment core for companies

who have chosen it. It gives the opportunity for international markets to be linked to various continents namely to Europe, Asia and Africa. Apart from transhipment the Freeport also benefits from cargo and container handling.

In Malta, the maritime industry cluster namely private sector and Government work together to ensure that the industry is well equipped and able to cater for industry needs.

Whilst ensuring that development is done in a sustainable manner, the maritime industry for our islands needs to be further incentivised and encouraged since the potential is huge. We need to capitalise on our strengths and one way in which this can be done is to ensure that leisure facilities are available within close proximity to marinas so as to be able to reap further benefits from this industry.

MCESD 280/3, Republic Street, Valletta, VLT1112 Tel: (+356) 2200 3300 www.mcesd.org.mt VOICE OF THE

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CONFEDERAZIONE ITALIANA AGRICOLTORI

Maritime Initiatives

The European Commission, through DG MOVE, has endorsed European Shipping Week and formal patronage is already being sought from it as well as the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers.

The initiative, which was the brainchild of the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), will be run by a Steering Group made up of Europe’s main shipping organisations as well as the European Commission and Shipping Innovation. The shipping organisations involved on the Steering Group include: ECSA; Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Europe; European Community Association of Ship Brokers and Agents (ECASBA); Interferry; the European Dredging Association; the World Shipping Council, as well as the European Tugowners’ Association.

More information available here: http://goo.gl/FuVXyJ

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European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) Strategic Survey The purpose of this survey is to get your opinion on how well EMSA is meeting its strategic goals. Your views on our strengths and weaknesses will help us identify gaps and actions to bridge them.

We would therefore greatly appreciate a few minutes of your time to complete the survey.

The EMSA Strategic Survey takes about 5 minutes to complete. This survey will be online until 12 September 2014.

You can access to the survey here: http://www.emsa.europa.eu/strategic-survey.html

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DOCUMENTS

Announcing the European Shipping Week 2015 Ship owners and shipping industry leaders have joined forces with global event organiser Shipping Innovation to launch the inaugural European Shipping Week (ESW) to be held in Brussels in the early part of 2015.

The European ship maintenance, repair and conversion sector: a resilient and competitive Industry The European Economic and Social Committee points out that despite it promising opportunities, the on-going crisis means that ship owners and Ship Maintenance, Repair and Conversion (SMRC) shipyards are facing financing bottlenecks making business conditions difficult for companies and ever greater competition from third countries. SMRC sub-sector should work closely with the maritime value chain with the aim of raising its profile and obtaining support from the EU, the Member States and regions.

The Publication is available here: http://goo.gl/C6b8qI

SURVEY

EVENTS

The Maritime Sector has many facets that are essential not just to the industry itself, but also to the whole of Europe and globally. There are many initiatives to bring together not just the stakeholders in the industry, but also the industry and the general public. The information below has been collected by the Brussels Office of the Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori.

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