It was a frolic and fun-filled day for more than 2,000 Filipino seafarers who flocked at the Luneta Seafarers Welfare Foundation (LUSWELF) today, November 13, 2015 as BZ Alpha Navigation held its grand opening with an aim of bringing their institution closer to seafarers.
The jam-packed three-hour program—which gathered seafarers for a massive celebration, sharing sumptuous and plentiful food while grooving to the upbeat music of Styrofoam band—was particularly staged to mark the launching of BZ Alpha Navigation, an international shipping agency in the Philippines whose mother company is Alpha Navigation headquartered in the United States of America (USA).
Three of the company’s big bosses graced the event and laid down the projects and platforms that the company has crafted for the Filipino seafarers. Mrs. Lerman O. Clavel, vice president, discussed the benefits and the cadetship program including scholarship that they offer to their current and soon-to-be employees and selected scholars from local maritime schools, respectively; Mr. Simon A. Varias, director, said BZ Alpha specifically targets to guide and hone Filipino seafarers for further improvement in aptitude and other important aspects through their programs; while Mr. Bogdan Zelenski, founder, took the chance to thank all the attendees for such a heartfelt support and vowed to continue what they have started for the benefit of many Filipino seafarers.
Captain Edgardo Flores of Navigator and Captain Reynold “Burt” Sabay of New Simulator Center of the Philippines Inc. (NEWSIM) were invited to serve as keynote speakers who expressed their support to the ideals and present activities that BZ Alpha is employing. Both of them are supportive of BZ Alpha Navigation and will serve as partners in training the officers of the company.
United Filipino Seafarers President Engr. Nelson P. Ramirez, who was also invited as a speaker, commended BZ Alpha Navigation’s unprecedented initiative of holding their grand opening day program in LUSWELF despite being a new kid in the block and said that no other manning agency and shipping company had done such a grand launch of their company in Luneta park yet.
Engr. Ramirez has always been supportive of BZ Alpha Navigation since Mr. Simon Varias presented to them their program from cadetship until the time that the crew retires.
He also bolstered the attendees’ hope towards having stable employment by taking pride of the expected high demands in maritime industry for Filipino seafarers as BZ Alpha is set to open the doors of its 700 vessels by 2017.
In an interview, BZ Alpha Navigation Director Simon Varias said their company is confident that their 2017 vision of offering a number of jobs to Filipino seafarers is feasible.
This is to answer the qualms of some with regard to their pronouncements about the expected increased demands for Filipino seafarers in the global market amid the recent decrease in the number of deployed Filipino seafarers last 2014.
“We have 700 vessels. We are not looking for them. We already have them,” Varias quipped. “Whoever questions that is only jealous.”
Confidence to Filipinos
When asked why Alpha Navigation decided to establish a branch in the Philippines instead in other neighboring countries, Varias said his 25 years of stay in the Philippines gave him the validation that Filipino seafarers are indeed world-class workers, adding that their undisputed hard work and dedication for the maritime industry is what sets them apart from the rest of the world.
He also credited the continuously improving maritime institutions in the country responsible at honing Filipino seafarers. “There are a lot of centers here in the Philippines that offer quality reviews and trainings for seafarers as well as academic institutions that prepare them to reach their maximum potentials and be at par with the global standards.”
The director of BZ Alpha also divulged the 73 percent possibility that these training centers will be included in the white list, crediting the incalculable efforts of concerned groups and individuals in making sure that continued local maritime excellence transpires.
BZ Alpha posted on facebook on Tuesday, November 10, 2015, an announcement encouraging interested applicants to apply for the following posts:
Chief Engineer 8,200USD ++ Age Limit 60 years old
2nd Engineer 6,600USD ++ Age Limit 55 years old
2nd Officer 4,500USD ++ Age Limit 50 years old
3rd Officer 3,100USD ++ Age Limit 37 years old
Oiler 1,350USD ++ Age Limit 45 years old
AB 1,350USD ++ Age Limit 45 years old
Source: Tinig ng Marino
1 comment
Nice information about this post.Thanks.
international air freight & international freight forwarder
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