FEATURE Cruises epitomise luxury, convenience and adventure for their passengers. But for the crew, cruises are complex operations that not only require the highest level of organisation, but also long periods at sea whilst maintaining an ‘always-on’ attitude. According to maritime union ITF Seafarers, there were approximately 200,000 people working on cruise ships as of 2019. Following the disruption of the pandemic, recruitment challenges are rising. “The cruise industry, like the whole maritime sector, is facing an increasing shortage of skilled seafarers,” says Martin Springer, managing director of BSM Cruise Services, part of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement. Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement has followed a long-term human resources development strategy, to expand its pool of over 20,000 seafarers and improve job satisfaction. “To attract good talent and to retain them, it is not enough to just pay the crew; you must also take care of them,” says Springer. “With tailor-made training concepts, Elly Yates-Roberts speaks with leading passenger ship management companies and crewing agencies about the solutions to current multi-faceted problems that ship operators are facing Happy crew, happy cruise BSM Cruise Services provides training opportunities and benefit programmes to ensure job satisfaction and crew welfare 1 2 9
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