Evaluating Jamaica’s position as a seafarer-supplying country for cruise and cargo

Abstract

PurposeThe maritime industry is crucial to the global economy and the scarcity of seafarers is an urgent concern. Seafarers are in short supply right now and will continue to be so in the foreseeable future. This study interrogates Jamaica’s position as a seafarer labour market through the prism of the industry’s apparent scarcity of seafarers (officers) while examining Jamaica’s maritime education and training system as a tool for nation-building. Previous studies have almost exclusively focused on specific jurisdictions, but as far as we know, very little research has investigated Jamaica as a maritime labour market.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve the aim of this study, mixed-method research was applied in collecting and analyzing data.FindingsThe study revealed that Jamaican seafarers possess several positive attributes such as good communication skills, they are typically well trained and have good cross-cultural skills, making them compatible with a multicultural crew. However, the supply of Jamaican seafarers continues to be low due to several challenges, including a lack of government support for the sector, lack of key stakeholder collaboration and a lack of awareness about career prospects.Research limitations/implicationsThe topic of seafarer supply is a broad one, and due to its scope and practical limitations, detailed statistical studies were not undertaken. As a result, further work is needed to establish more precise correlations between the essential variables.Practical implicationsMany findings point to Jamaica’s strengths as a provider of seafarers, yet problems and obstacles were also mentioned. The study’s findings point to a lack of maritime awareness among youth, as well as, perhaps surprisingly, among stakeholders and policymakers. The paper provides a holistic report on Jamaica’s status as a seafaring supply country that policymakers can use to inform policy and to upscale Jamaica’s seafaring output.Social implicationsA career as a seafarer can be both intriguing and lucrative. Hence, creating a conducive environment that promotes training, world-class certification and seafarers’ employment may increase seafarers’ output and, by extension, contribute to Jamaica’s economy and nation-building.Originality/valueJamaica’s status as a maritime labour market is insufficiently studied and as a result several key questions and notions have not as yet been discussed. This study explores the maritime labour market in Jamaica and documents what exists.