the Blue Ocean

Navigating Towards the Blue Ocean
MARITIME RESEARCH SERVICES
Consistent with its second mandate on the conduct
of maritime research, significant progress was
made by the NMP in 2011 with three (3) studies
and two (2) research proposals completed as of
yearend. Being the only government maritime
research center in the country, NMP’s work on this
hugely important aspect stems from the dynamic
characteristics of the industry and the consequent
demand for timely, accurate, and informed data as
basis for program and policy development.
CONDUCT OF RESEARCH
1. Study on the Supply of and Demand for
Filipino Seafarers
The research undertaking aimed to generate and
provide a coordinated and coherent maritime labor
market information that are at the same time
complete, accurate and timely as basis for more
proactive specific actions in affecting appropriate
changes in maritime manpower education, training,
planning and management. This is to ensure
adequate 2011 and sustainable Annual Report supply of competent and
globally competitive Filipino seafarers.
Approved for implementation in May 2008, the
research used 2007 as the base year of the data.
Data gathering, which was originally targeted to be
completed by end of 2008, was continued until 2009
to be able to capture information indicative of the
impact of the global financial crisis on the demand
for Filipino seafarers, as in the case of crew orders
for Filipino seafarers.
Interim findings of the study was presented in a
Second Maritime Industry Stakeholders’ and Data
Users’ Forum in Cebu City on April 1, 2011. The
first one was previously held on December 9, 2010
at the DOLE Executive Building, Intramuros, Manila.
The study is 100% completed as of end of June
2011. The enhanced research report was presented
to the NMP Board of Trustees on November 9, 2011.
2. Decent Work in the Maritime Industry:
Focus on Filipino Seafarers On Board Domestic
Vessels
The research aimed to generate information on
the application of the decent work concept in the
living and working conditions of Filipino seafarers
on board domestic vessels vis-à-vis the Maritime
Labor Convention (MLC) 2006 that will serve as
input in the identification of good and best practices
as well as of the issues and gaps involved in its
application. Thereafter, the study identified and
proposed strategies, tools or approaches to address
these issues and gaps.
Respondents to the study were representatives of
domestic shipping companies, the vessels’ captains,
and crew. Three (3) sets of instruments were used
to gather data from the respondents, which include
a questionnaire for vessel’s crew (Q1), check sheet
for on board data gathering (Q2) for the vessel
itself, and the interview schedule for representative
of the shipping company (Q3).
2011 Annual Report
As part of the research dissemination activities of the NMP, findings of completed studies are presented
in various internal and external venues, such as the semestral Situationer Brief participated in by
trainees, employees, maritime-related government agencies, schools and related institutions.
9 NMP Annual Report 2011