Recent worldwide downturn in shipping industry has hit the Bangladeshi seafarers very hard. It has been further aggravated by the lack of proper policy and good management by the concerned authorities in Bangladesh. Located at Juldia, a scenic hilly area, on the eastern bank of the river Karnafully facing the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh Marine Academy (BMA) was established in 1962 as a pioneer and only institution in the then Pakistan to cater for the needs of nautical and engineering cadets of sea going vessels. The Academy follows the British curriculum and it is a recognised affiliate of the World Maritime University of Malmo.

Since the inception of the Academy, more than four thousand nautical and engineering cadets have graduated from the academy, many of whom have subsequently become Masters (Captains) and Engineers to run merchant ships. It has produced and placed many seafarers to high positions at home and abroad.

Unfortunately, the Academy is now dwindling. Its output is facing serious setback because of multiple factors such as downward spiral of world shipping, a glut of Bangladeshi maritime graduates looking for employment and a sharp decline in ship owning business in Bangladesh.

The government issued licence to about 18 private academies besides Bangladesh Marine Academy causing this glut. Needless to mention that many, if not all, of these academies in the private sector are either ill-equipped or lacking in the infrastructure required for a standard marine academy.  Adding to this scenario, Bangladesh Fisheries Academy was also allowed to train its cadets for employment in foreign-going ships, other than fishing vessels. Furthermore, it is learnt that the government has decided to open four more academies in the hinterland.

The capacity of Juldia Marine Academy that started with only 44 cadets in the 60s rose to more than 300 over the years. The intake figure in the academy has come down significantly in the last couple of years because of lack of employment opportunities. This year the academy could hardly recruit 60 cadets for pre-sea training.

As mentioned above, the number of academies for training of pre-sea cadets has increased manifold, so have their capacities. On the other hand, the number of our merchant fleet, both in the public and private sector, has shrunk to an abnormally low level. The result is inevitable. Hundreds of these young graduates are now unemployed. They are finding it almost impossible to get a job either in their home fleet or in a foreign-flag ship. The reason for the expansion of the training institutes for mariners without taking into consideration the prospect of their employment is anybody’s guess.

In the earlier times, fresh graduates, passing out from Juldia Marine academy, were absorbed by Bangladesh Shipping Corporation for their initial apprenticeship. Once that was achieved, it was easier for the cadets to find employment in foreign flag ships and add to the economy of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Shipping Corporation has come to an almost nonexistent entity, as far as the number of fleet is concerned, mainly because of poor management, thereby making it all the more difficult for the cadets to find jobs.

In order to revitalise the marine sector, the shipping ministry has to take initiatives to find ways to accommodate these cadets wandering at large for jobs and at the same time stop some of the unwanted so called academies from functioning. We should mainly focus on the development of the Bangladesh Marine Academy in its true perspective aiming at making it a Maritime University of international repute. BMA has a proud history, and it is our moral obligation to support this institution.

The government has to negotiate with other governments to facilitate our officers’ joining foreign flagged ships. It may be mentioned here that foreign ship owners are reluctant to accept job applications from Bangladeshi mariners on account of visa problem.

Bangladesh is a maritime nation. Its people have been sailing across the seas as seafarers since ages. It has now a large pool of highly qualified and skilled ship captains, engineers and managers to operate merchant ships or run shipping business. There is no reason why the shipping business of the country should not flourish. What is needed is to encourage and inspire the local entrepreneurs to come forward and invest in this sector.

Capt Hussain Imam, Master Mariner (UK), is a retired Merchant Navy Officer and Ghulam M Suhrawardi is M.S. Marine Transportation Management (USA). [email protected]

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/01/13/59074/Revamping-Bangladesh-Marine-Academy