Continued Internationalization of Container and Tanker Crewing

Logistics Insight Asia - Industry News, 19/2/2008

In order to return to profitability, A.P. Moller - Maersk is focusing on being competitive and cost effective. The process also encompasses our Technical Organization responsible for crewing on Danish vessels and our findings show that we need to make some significant changes relating to the shipboard operation and the cost of operating under Danish flag. This will result in layoffs of about 200 Danish chief stewards and Danish ratings aboard Danish flagged container and tanker vessels. These positions will be replaced with international crew.

The company regrets having to dismiss these chief stewards and ratings who have served the company well for many years. The layoffs are a result of the internationalization of the seafarers which has been going on for some years, and reflect the fact that international crew have proven their capabilities and abilities to offer a qualified alternative to the Danish chief stewards and ratings. Today we have to hire seafarers based on cost competitiveness.

The predominant part of the dismissals for the ratings will take effect within six months. For the chief stewards the process will be ongoing into 2009, and during this time we will make every effort to find other possibilities within our Group for the affected chief stewards.

Negotiations with Danish seafarer organizations on conditions are taking place.
The changes do not impact the recruitment of Danish cadets; we still need to employ all the cadets we can get.

Maersk, www.maersk.com