Summer is back

HARBORSCOPE volume 2 issue no. 4

The heat is on once more! Businesses are getting burned with different fires of the trade. The most recent of which is the present economic uncertainty that is being felt worldwide. As an aftermath, businesses have slowed down and charter hires nose-dived tremendously resulting to vessel layups and displacement of seafarers.

In the land-based sector, a lot of companies have folded up resulting to repatriations of overseas Filipino workers. Thanks to the Philippine labor department, through its Secretary Marianito Roque, for working on immediate potential solutions to address the possible distress.

Recently, the government sector has convened with the stakeholders of the industry through the Filipino Association for Mariners Employment, Inc. and they all agreed to come up with a reporting system to identify the severity of the crisis. Under the reporting system, an agency will report how many vessels have been laid up and how many seafarers were displaced as a result. From this, according to Roque, they can come up with a feasible solution.

However, according to Maritime Training Council chief Mr. Noriel Devanadera, “compliance is low.” Proof that despite all efforts being undertaken by both the government and the private sector, many were still stubborn to adhere to the call for cooperation. Because of which, the government warned to impose stricter penalties for non compliance.

Just recently, the FAME has conducted a maritime symposium at the Hyatt Hotel on March 18. It reported the latest statistics of laid up vessels and cancelled ship orders. It has also presented action plans and strategies on how to face the challenges of global crisis. It has designed the do’s and don’t’s to weather the current phenomenon.

It is truly of good report how industry leaders from different companies, who were sailing on the same boat, will cooperatively work together to save the shipping world. Our leaders are all very clever. They are the cream of the crop. They can come up with a feasible solution in every situation of the trade. They are really experts in the field.

This is the reason why the whole world is looking at us. The Philippines, aside from the manpower resources, are also rich in great leaders. We have all the potentials. We have all the resources. We can survive every situation.

While a lot of companies have been severely affected by the global crisis, it is good to know that there are companies who have prepared for the dry season. One of them is OSG.

According to its Head of International Shipping Operations and Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of OSG Ship Management (UK) Ltd., Capt. Ian T. Blackley, OSG very well-positioned with USD 1.7 billion of liquidity. They were able to expand and managed the business conservatively in the last two to three months.

The Ventis Maritime Corporation recently celebrated its 20 years in the business. It featured its dramatic growth and how it has sustained the business. The journey continues for Ventis.

The Philippine Transmarine Carriers, which just turned 30, managed to return the blessings to the community and the environment. It was too grateful for its industry partners, principals, the staff and the seafarers for staying with them through the years.

The General Maritime Corporation likewise come prepared for the crisis. According to owner’s representative, C/E Miguel Marasigan, there are continuous developments being undertaken by the General Maritime Corporation.

The growth and success of the Physicians Diagnostic Services Center, Inc. is also noteworthy. From its humble beginning, it now has branches in the Visayas. Soon it will have branches in Northern Luzon and Mindanao to cater to more OFWs.

It is interesting to know how these corporations managed their finances well and how they were able to do business conservatively that they always come prepared for any eventualities.

It is always best to come up with a good understanding of the business and their roles in the trade to allow them to perform better.

Beware of the 10th commandment

The tenth commandment said “thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s goods.” Thou shall not desire of the things which are not yours. This is something we should care about. It is God’s commandment. Therefore, we are bound to follow it.

In the maritime business, desiring the success of your competitor the wrong way is truly unhealthy. You don’t step on someone’s toe just to get on top of him. You don’t pull a company down just to get your company up. Your style could be detrimental to others. So we suggest you put it fairly.

You can put up a good fight by investing on the same investment cashed in by your competitor. In that manner, business jealousy can be prevented. You are business friends for goodness sake. Don’t let yourself be engulfed by the hatred created by your own jealousy!