PETALING JAYA: Many Malaysian seafarers are 'jumping ship'. And that’s because the wages being offered – from ratings (crew) to senior officers – trail way behind what others offer, says the Association of Malaysian Maritime Professionals (Ikmal).
Its president, Capt Abdul Aziz Abdullah said many Malaysian senior officers in the deck and engine departments are currently serving on foreign-registered ships due to wage disparities at home.
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He said wages must be urgently re-examined to bring them on par with shore-based professions and international shipping standards.
The Malaysia Marine Department, he said, has conducted a study on wage structures and will soon publish recommended rates for shipping companies.
“This wage anomaly has resulted in many of our experienced officers opting to work on foreign-flagged vessels, where the perks and benefits are more competitive,” he said yesterday.
Capt Abdul Aziz said there were also other structural challenges.
These include contractual employment, which has replaced the permanent tenure enjoyed by earlier generations of seafarers.
“In the past, seafarers were permanently employed, received pay even while on leave, and were granted study leave to pursue mandatory upgrading courses,” he added.
Today, most are hired on fixed-term contracts. Once they sign off at the end of a voyage, their contractual ties with the company end until they are re-engaged.
“This leads to irregular income streams and makes it difficult to manage long-term financial commitments,” he added.
The maritime expert said the financial burden was compounded by mandatory training and certification requirements by the International Maritime Organisation.
“Seafarers have to undergo upgrading and revalidation courses at their own expense, and course fees keep rising,” he added.
Capt Abdul Aziz also highlighted a taxation anomaly. Seafarers on ocean-going vessels on unlimited voyages are exempt from personal income tax but those serving onboard offshore support vessels are not.
The profession has also become increasingly demanding, with reduced crew sizes, heightened regulatory requirements and growing commercial pressures contributing to fatigue.
Ikmal also expressed concern over the substantial presence of non-Malaysian seafarers on Malaysian-flagged ships and wage disparities across nationalities.
This has led to fewer young Malaysians entering the profession.
“Without meaningful and collaborative reforms, the industry risks continued attrition of professionals and a weakening pipeline of future maritime talent.” Capt Abdul Aziz said.
