“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to go to the forest to gather wood, saw it, and nail the planks together. Instead, teach them the desire for the sea,” said World War II pilot and French writer, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
That quotation holds great meaning because it suggests a profound difference between routine and passion.
And all of us, we believe, want to be people of passion.
Seaman always had that certain attitude; they mostly were passionate men through all seafaring ages: the age of navigation, the age of discovery, the age of sail, the age of steam, and the age of global commerce.
With globalization, the whole industry expanded massively and today faces the situation that qualified seagoing people are needed all over the world. At the same time, ship-owners and principals face massive competition fighting two fronts: the war for passionate seafarer talent and the war for efficiency.
Although the often cited seafaring romance has gone in today’s economic world, there are spaces in the industry that provide exciting opportunities and interesting jobs. If you have asked yourself, for instance, how BBC Chartering’s vessels are crewed, this article gives you a glimpse behind the scenes. As, BBC Chartering sailor, you are very likely sailing with LEDA Shipping, a crew management company based in Leer. It is a 100% subsidiary of the Leer-based shipping company Briese Schiffahrts GmbH & Co. KG which currently manages and operates about 130 vessels.
LEDA Shipping GmbH takes care of the vessels of the mother company, as well as vessels belonging to other shipping companies. Depending on the client‘s given parameters, Leda Shipping is able to act as agent for the foreign employer or as direct employer. In either case, LEDA Shipping covers the entire crew management process and provides selection and recruitment of duly qualified and experienced captains, officers and ratings; arrangement of trainings; all related administration with the crew‘s embarkation and repatriation, including visa formalities and traveling arrangements. LEDA Shipping also manages crew documents according to STCW 95 and the respective flag states requirements; issues employment contracts and executes payment of wages; assures crew P&I insurance and the proper handling of respective claims.
A crewing client can also appreciate implementation and follow-up of drug and alcohol policies, a supply of working clothes for the crew, regular visits to the vessel by a LEDA Shipping Superintendent, regular consultation and reporting, and lastly, the handling of all matters related to the I.T.F. (International Transport Workers’ Federation).
From a recruiting perspective, LEDA Shipping and its affiliates are always interested in hiring Seafarers of a variety of professions and ranks.