In the international shipping trade:

‘Sri Lankan seafarers in higher demand’

Harshini Perera

From the inception of the Ceyline Group of Companies in 1985, it had been making a tremendous contribution by producing more efficient and professional seafarers to the industry, said Ceyline Group of Companies Group Managing Director Captain Ajith Peiris.

He said while Ceyline Shipping was the first company to be incorporated, the CINEC Maritime Campus is the crowning of its success in the journey of diversification into many sectors.

Q : How is the demand for sea-going professionals in the international market?

A : This profession needs more courageous and dedicated personnel than any other profession in the world.

It is a very tiring and at the same time a very interesting profession. Since Sri Lanka does not have a large fleet of ships, the demand for our seafarers comes from foreign shipping companies in countries such as Germany, Japan, Greece and Hong Kong.

Sri Lankans are in higher demand in the international market since their knowledge and fluency in English is higher than in most of the other sea- faring nations. Especially the officers and engineers are in higher demand.

One of the surveys conducted has revealed that there will be a shortage of about 40,000 officers and engineers in the international market by 2015. Actually the demand for such a large number of officers in the industry might get reduced due to the effects of the economic recession.

The natural tendency in the world is that when a country is developed, the citizens of the country are reluctant to go out to sea.

They are averse to the idea of being out at sea away from their family members and relatives since they can earn almost the same remuneration while working on land. Hence officers from developing countries like Sri Lanka get more opportunities.

Q : What are the prospects for a officer/engineer produced from CINEC Maritime Campus?

A : A school leaver joining the CINEC Campus as a cadet officer or engineer will be graduated after a three years training period and will be placed on a ship as a third officer/ engineer at a US$ 1500-2000 salary scale per month.

They are being offered a comparatively high salary due to the hardships they have to undergo while in the service.

There is a risk factor involved and he or she should be psychologically strong to take up the challenges in the confined area of a ship while the ship is on open seas.

Many young people in and around Colombo initially joined the CINEC Maritime Campus Colombo but now we see that many young people from suburbs and rural areas enroll for courses. Last year, the number of students enrolled for many courses (one day duration to three year duration courses) were approximately 14, 000.

There are 200 cadet officers/engineers undergoing training at CINEC. After the certification, they will be placed on board foreign ships.

They receive the opportunity to join the world’s biggest shipping companies.

There are around 1,000 seafarers training in foreign ships through Ceyline Group companies, at the moment.

The CINEC Maritime Campus which is the crew management company in the Group maintains a crew pool with around 2,500 seafarers.

We have a joint venture company with a German ship owner who has provided employment for more than 250 Sri Lankans.

Q : How is the women participation in this field?

A: There are women who have stepped in to this profession mostly from the Western countries. It is still not popular among Sri Lankans but there are few lady marine officers/engineers produced by the CINEC Campus.

The culture in Sri Lanka could have been the restraint in opening up such professions to Sri Lankan women because of the hardships they may have to undergo at sea.

Q: How do you explain your job as the Captain of a vessel?

A: Sailing as the Captain in a ship is very interesting and challenging as we have to face much risk out at sea.

Due to the short tenure you have to be on board (four to six months),we could easily overcome these challenges without getting exhausted.

Personally I feel the job as the Captain of a ship is less complicated than being the CEO of a Group of companies.

Q: What are the future plans of the company?

A: The Ceyline Group of Companies is already into various sectors such as crew management, maritime training, reefer container management, shipping agencies, freight-forwarding, ship repairing, ship supplies, healthcare and travels.

We have already expanded our services to neighbouring countries such as India and Bangladesh. The branches we already set up are in Chennai, Tuticorin, Dhaka and Chittagong. We will be setting up a branch in Mumbai in the near future. We always look into expansion in the area of crew management to provide job opportunities for our youth on foreign ships.

In the area of education through CINEC Campus we would like to see more diversification by offering degree programs affiliated with foreign universities such as the Dalian Maritime University, the Wolverhampton University, the University of Tasmania and the University of South Australia.

We are also tied up with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport to offer courses in Sri Lanka. To make these courses job-oriented we conduct courses such as IT training and industrial engineering programs. We have also taken steps to establish our presence in Trincomalee and in Jaffna in the near future.

Q: What is your philosophy in life?

A: To do whatever I do in the right way and to be committed. I would like to be simple and nice to people. I am a person who is always looking for development.

Q: What is your advice to young people who are beginning to climb the Corporate ladder?

A: To concentrate and be focused on the job in whatever profession one is engaged in and to help the other. If one follows these lines, the money will always follow and one does not need go behind money.

Q: What is the place you wish to visit outside Sri Lanka?

A: Honestly it is Australia. It is not hectic like the other countries. What is the place you wish to visit in Sri Lanka?

I like the flat land therefore, it is Trincomalee and Hambantota. How do you spend your leisure time?

I engage in a lot of social work especially in connection with my school. I also like to spend time with my family.