European cruise to hire 1,600 Filipino seafarers yearly
Costa Crociere, a European cruise operator, will employ at least 1,600 seafarers for its fleet expansion beginning this year up to 2012.
Costa will use the Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts (MIHCA) to train and educate the seafarers. MIHCA is part of the Magsaysay learning organization that offers certificate and upgrading courses for the maritime profession. Magsaysay has been working as Costa’s strategic partner in the development of people from the Philippines as well as in Thailand, Indonesia and mainland China.
Doris Magsaysay-Ho, MIHCA president and chairman, said “We made the investment and our facility will be used by them”.
They are here to train, and, of course, to hire Filipino seafarers, Magsaysay-Ho said.
It also supplies skilled workers to various ocean ships, including P&O Cruises, and top local hotels.
Magsaysay-Ho said it is the first of Costa’s eight training centers worldwide to offer a new type of educational training called “Ready for Excellence”.
The course provides hands on experience on the workplace environment and they will be taught of skills they need to deliver excellent service to Costa’s guest for four weeks.
MIHCA’s facility include functional cruise ship cabin from Costa flagship Costa Serena, simulated restaurants, gallery bars.
Alessandro Centrone, Costa Crociere S.P.A. vice-president, Corporate Human Resources, said “The opening of the school in Manila meets our demand for a significant increase in the number of shipboard professionals receiving specific interactive training before they start to work in our ship”.
On the other hand, Costa Crociere S.P.A. chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Froschi, said the company has eight ships in operation and nine in orders.
“Our fleet expansion, with another five new ships due to enter 2012, needs to be adequately supported by training activity in line with our core value of service excellence and position for the guest,” Froschi said.
By 2009, Costa Luminosa, a new ship with 92,700 gross tonnage and 2,260 lower berths will be delivered. The Costa Pacifica will be delivered in spring 2009 by Ficantieri at Genoa Sesti Ponente yards.
By March 2010, the second 92,700 gross tonnage ship will enter into service. Costa fleet will consist of 15 ships and about 30,800 guests in double occupancy cabins.
By 2011 and 2012, new Concordia class ships with 114,500 gross tonnage built at Fincantier’s Marghera yards will enter into service. Costa fleet will then reach 17 ships and will cater to about 36,800 guests.
Costa will also increase its calls to the Philippines by 40 percent from 10 calls in 2007 to 14 calls this year.
