Singapore ‘the Brad Pitt of shipping’: Spinnaker

One of the world’s leading maritime recruitment experts sees Singapore as the hottest place on the planet for shipping at the moment, but also a city facing acute human resources problems as a result. Phil Parry, chairman of co-founder of UK maritime recruitment firm Spinnaker, told SeaShip News: “Singapore has become a victim of its own success in that the huge growth in the number of shipping employers there has led to a war for talent.”
Nowhere in the world of shipping is the demise of the expat more evident than in the Lion Republic, Parry said. “Singapore employers are not hiring just anyone,” he said, “they continue to seek new recruits with permanent residence so they can avoid requests for housing, schooling allowances and relocation assistance.”
The rise of China to the forefront of shipping has left the city state in a bit of recruitment quandary, Parry reckoned. “Singapore employers continue to seek Mandarin speakers,” he said, “but the lack of historical shipping tradition locally means that supply of experienced staff with Mandarin lags behind.”
Summing up the republic’s HR issues, Parry said: “Singapore’s problem is that with so many newly landed companies, demand for locals or foreigners with existing permanent residence outstrips supply. Something has to give and that’s either in the way of salary inflation or conceding that sometimes it’s necessary to look overseas for staff. This is a timing issue though and Singapore, as well as Hong Kong, are investing heavily in maritime education and promotion; the local talent base will grow.”
When quizzed as to which place was the most vibrant shipping centre in the world based on the amount of HR movements, Parry was in no doubt. “Singapore wins through as the Brad Pitt of shipping in the recent boom,” he told SeaShip News.
Phil Parry also spoke today to our sister site Maritime CEO in a wide-ranging interview on maritime human resources.
Source: Sea Ship News