Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) is heading to South Korea to train and employ young seafarers.
The German-controlled ship manager describes a new cooperation agreement as a milestone in securing highly competent crew members.
The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technologies (KIMFT), an education and research centre operated by the government of South Korea.
The two will work together within the framework of the Global Employment Project for Young Korean Seafarers to boost careers at sea.
The strategic collaboration marks the first step in recognition of the mutual interests in the field of seafarers' entry to the global shipping market, and aims to promote the career development and training of young South Korean seafarers, BSM said.
Future crewing sorted
Eva Rodriguez, director of marine human resources at BSM, added: "Our partnership with KIMFT is in line with our aim to secure the most competent seafarers for a sustainable future."
She said: "It will offer great opportunities to young Korean officers within our highly diversified fleet."
Eun-kyu Jang, director of education at KIMFT, said the deal symbolised a partnership that will lead to "excellent job opportunities for competent Korean seafarers in the years ahead".
South Korea is a big shipping nation and has been nurturing highly skilled marine officers through various academic routes for the past 70 years.
With the support of the government, a number of national maritime universities, maritime high schools, and vocational institutions have yearly produced more than 2,000 deck and engineering officers.
