The report forecasts significant increases in the UK shipping industry’s demand for Ratings to 2026 and makes it clear that existing recruitment and training practices in the industry could see non-domiciled seafarers supplying an even greater proportion of Ratings working in the UK shipping industry over the next decade. As of 2015, UK seafarers held around 10% of the 87,000 Ratings jobs in the UK shipping industry.
RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash said:

“This report reinforces RMT’s SOS 2020 campaign for the Government to tackle the shipping industry’s pay discrimination and other aggressive employment practices against UK and non-UK seafarers, or risk sacrificing the future for UK seafaring to appease ship owners and recruitment agencies’ insatiable appetite for profit. In 2015 UK seafarers only made up a measly 10% of the 87,000 Ratings jobs in the UK shipping industry and the report predicts big increases to 2026 in UK shipping’s demand for Ratings in all departments of a merchant ship.

“We cannot allow seafarers in the UK, particularly the next generation who we need to replace the thousands of UK Ratings who will retire in the years to 2026, to be denied a higher proportion of these jobs because of the shipping industry’s exploitative and elitist employment policies.”
Steve Todd, RMT National Secretary, added:

“We welcome this report, which RMT contributed to. It sets out in no uncertain terms the scale of the challenge to Government to prevent the UK shipping industry from adopting a ‘business as usual’ approach to training and recruitment of UK seafarers.

“As we have repeatedly stated, such action is now essential for the future of UK Ratings in our shipping industry which moves millions of passengers and almost all of the UK’s traded goods every year. The report forecasts that by 2026 the UK shipping industry’s demand for non-hospitality (deck, engine and dual purpose) and hospitality ratings will increase by 7% and 35% respectively.

“RMT is clear that unless nationality based pay discrimination is tackled now, UK seafarers will continue to be excluded from these and existing jobs and the UK will lose the ability to operate a diverse range of merchant shipping. If that is lost, and the report is clear that we remain on course for a maritime skills shortage, Government would have effectively sold off UK seafarers’ jobs and exposed our economy and security to major risks at a time of uncertainty and turmoil around the terms of the UK’s trading relationship with Europe and the rest of the world.

“The Government can act now to increase UK seafaring jobs and training as demand grows over the next decade and nothing should stop them from doing so.”

Roll-on/Roll-off cargo mirrored that growth, with a 12.3 percent increase (7,000 units) in passenger vehicles and heavy equipment handled at Colonel’s Island terminal in Brunswick and Ocean Terminal in Savannah. Georgia’s deepwater ports moved 63,967 Ro/Ro units last month.

Executive Director Griff Lynch reported at the Authority board meeting Monday that several factors led to GPA’s December record growth. “Strategic proximity to major population and manufacturing sites, direct interstate access and the most ocean carrier routes in the U.S. Southeast are the competitive advantages drawing customers to our ports,” Lynch said. “As the largest single-terminal operation in the nation, Savannah’s advantages are unmatched in the industry.”

In its effort to stay ahead of demand and accommodate future needs, the GPA broke ground last month on its new inland terminal in Northwest Georgia – the Appalachian Regional Port. Port officials estimate the CSX rail route will reduce Atlanta truck traffic by 50,000 moves annually, and expand GPA’s target market in Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. Each container moved by rail from the inland terminal will offset 355 truck miles on Georgia highways.

“GPA’s track record of operational excellence over the past decade more than prepares it to achieve great things at the Appalachian Regional Port,” said Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood. “This is the next step in our transition, moving additional cargo to rail, allowing more capacity on our interstates, and extending GPA’s competitive benefits farther into the American heartland.”

Inland terminal construction is expected to take just under two years, with the start of operations at the ARP targeted for the third quarter of calendar year 2018.

Allgood said the new inland terminal will make goods manufactured within its service region — such as flooring, automobiles and tires — more competitive in the global market, while reducing carbon emissions. The ARP’s savings potential has already resulted in companies locating and expanding in Northwest Georgia to take advantage of the inland terminal’s future benefits.

Allgood began the first GPA Board Meeting of 2017 with a moment of silence for Tom J. Mahoney, Jr. who passed away January 20. Mahoney had served as assistant attorney general for the GPA from 1987 until the time of his death. “For nearly three decades, Tom Mahoney helped steer GPA’s growth and success with his wise counsel, knowledge of maritime issues and love of our ports. He will be missed.”

December was a solid finish to the second quarter of fiscal year 2017, with 164,480 TEUs moved last month, a year-over-year increase of nearly 14 percent.

As measured in pier containers, or total box volume, SCPA handled 92,956 boxes last month, up 12.8 percent compared to the same month last year. Fiscal year to date pier container volume is up 5.4 percent, with 580,880 boxes moved at its North Charleston and Wando Welch container terminals.

“The port is experiencing an all-time high container volume, with loaded imports and exports achieving over 7 percent growth,” said Jim Newsome, SCPA President and CEO. “Looking ahead to the second half of our 2017 fiscal year, we remain cautiously optimistic as we continue to prepare for the deployment of 14,000 TEU ships and improve our existing infrastructure. We are also excited about the development plans for the new Inland Port Dillon and the efficiency and flexibility benefits the project will bring to shippers in that area.”

Port of Charleston handled 61,377 pier tons in December, pushing fiscal year to date volume to 422,120 pier tons moved across SCPA docks. Charleston exceeded fiscal year to date plans by 8.5 percent.

Rail moves at Inland Port Greer continued to be strong, with 9,180 moves last month. With 54,072 rail lifts since July, the facility’s rail volume is up 28 percent over the same period last year.