With the fast growth rate of China's shipping industry, local colleges can not provide enough merchant sailors to meet demand, even though more graduates with non-maritime degrees are opting for work at sea, warned industry professionals.
"We realize the serious problems caused by the shortage of seamen, and it may restrain trade," Li Enhong, director of merchant seamen management at the Ministry of Transport, said to a local media.
Over 10,000 graduates who have not majored in maritime relevant subjects have joined the merchant fleet since 2006.
[11/07/12]
