The Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers’ Association (BMMOA) has taken a bold and timely initiative to significantly expand employment opportunities for Bangladeshi seafarers, marking an important milestone for the nation’s maritime workforce. At a time when cadets, junior officers, and ratings are facing increasing uncertainty in the global job market, BMMOA has stepped forward with decisive and results-oriented action.
Over the past few months, BMMOA has actively engaged with leading international shipowners and ship-management companies to promote Bangladesh as a reliable and high-quality source of maritime professionals. These sustained efforts have now delivered concrete results: three major international principals have agreed to recruit seafarers directly from Bangladesh, and their senior representatives are currently visiting the country.
As part of a structured four-day program, the visiting principals are inspecting key maritime training institutions to assess training standards, facilities, and the overall readiness of Bangladeshi seafarers for global deployment. The program commenced with a visit to the Bangladesh Marine Academy, Chattogram, underscoring the strategic importance of Bangladesh’s maritime education system.
Global Industry Leaders Engaging with Bangladesh
The visiting principals represent some of the most respected names in the global shipping industry:
-
Nathalin Shipping Pte. Ltd., represented by its Managing Director Captain Mohammad Emdad, operates and manages around 20 vessels, including VLCCs and Chemical Tankers.
-
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., represented by Captain Mohammad Rahat Suman, Fleet Personnel Manager, manages a global fleet of approximately 600 vessels, covering LNG, LPG, VLCC, Chemical Tankers, Bulk Carriers, and Container Ships.
-
Huayang (Singapore) Shipping Pte. Ltd., represented by Mr. Wang Yaoting, Managing Director, is the Singapore arm of China’s second-largest ship management and manning organization, a government-owned autonomous enterprise employing nearly 12,000 seafarers worldwide.
The delegation is being accompanied by Captain Md. Anam Chowdhury, President of BMMOA, and Marine Engineer Md. Shakhawat Hossain, General Secretary of BMMOA, reflecting the Association’s direct leadership and commitment at the highest level.
BMMOA warmly welcomes the visiting principals and sincerely thanks them for responding to the Association’s invitation and for expressing strong interest in recruiting Bangladeshi seafarers. This engagement sends a powerful signal of confidence in the competence, discipline, and professionalism of Bangladesh’s maritime workforce.
A Stronger Future for Bangladeshi Seafarers
This initiative represents more than a visit—it is a strategic step toward long-term, sustainable employment pathways for Bangladeshi seafarers in the global shipping industry. BMMOA remains firmly committed to advocating for its members and creating meaningful opportunities through direct engagement with international stakeholders.
Special appreciation is extended to Captain Md. Kamal Hossain, a BMMOA member based in Singapore, for his instrumental role in coordinating and facilitating this high-level visit.
BMMOA also expresses its sincere appreciation to the Bangladesh Marine Academy, Chattogram, for their cooperation in making the visit successful, particularly to:
- Marine Engineer Md. Manjurul Kabir, Commandant
- Marine Engineer Atikur Rahman Chowdhury, Business Development Officer
- Captain Mohammad Firoz Mostafa, Head of Nautical Training
- Chief Engineer Md. Atikur Rahman
- Senior Engineering Instructor Marine Engineer Mohammad Shahid Ullah
- Senior Nautical Instructor Captain Md. Mozaherul Islam
- Chief Education Officer Khalid Mahmud,
along with all officers and staff of the Academy.
With unity, vision, and proactive leadership, BMMOA will continue to champion initiatives that strengthen the global presence of Bangladeshi seafarers and open new doors of opportunity.
Courtesy: Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers’ Association (BMMOA)
Captain Md. Anam Chowdhury
President &
Marine Engineer Md. Shakhawat Hossain
General Secretary
Leave a comment