Aging crews on ferry services to outlying islands could soon be a problem if they cannot find people to succeed them after they retire, maritime experts said.
The nation has 26 ferry services to outlying islands, which are operated by 70 captains, Port and Maritime Bureau statistics showed. The average age of these captains is 52. On some ferry routes, captains are still operating ships even after they turn 80, the bureau said.
Taipei University of Marine Technology associate professor Chang Tsai-hsin (張在欣) attributed the aging crews on ferry services to stable incomes and low career thresholds. It might also be a career choice for those whose homes are in the coastal areas or seeking a family-oriented life, she said.
Photo: Chen Hsin-yu, Taipei Times
“Most of the boats that are used for ferry services weigh between 20 tonnes and 500 tonnes. There is no education and age limit for those seeking to operate ferries. So long as they have certificates for third-class mates or first officers and have worked as third-class mates or first officers for at least one year, they can make this a life-long career,” Chang said.
“Because of relatively lower career thresholds, the jobs are mostly done by those who switch their careers when they are middle-aged,” she said.
Unlike crew members working on international commercial ships, who are subject to frequent deployment, crews on ferries work fixed schedules and usually need to care for family members.
Chang said that the booming international shipping business during the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed some shipping firms to give their employees 40 to 45 months of salaries as bonuses, has motivated more young people to pursue a career in shipping.
“Some hope to earn their first ‘bucket of gold’ by working in the shipping business, while others hope to accumulate work experience and would work on ferries or inland shipping services when they get older,” she said.
The bureau said that the average age of captains who operate ferries is about the same as those working for ocean freight shipping and near-sea shipping lines.
Compared with training for other crew members, training a captain takes a relatively long time, the bureau said.
Crews on ferries are mostly local residents or those who are familiar with the routes they work, it said.
“We are encouraging shipping firms to train their own crews. They can also recruit crew members through our smart service platform,” the bureau said.
Cheng Tsuen-ren (鄭尊任), who operates ferries between Magong City in Penghu County and Da Tsang Islet (大倉嶼), said residents there live by the sea and can operate boats from when they are a child.
As a licensed captain, Cheng operates two ferry trips per day, assumes the job of village warden and goes sea fishing at night, he said.
North-South Shipping Firm chairman Chen Kai-shou (陳開壽) said both his son and his nephew are captains and have been trained to operate boats ever since they were children. Now they can operate big boats and have no trouble navigating among islands, and between outlying islands and Taiwan proper.
“I prefer to recruit people who are familiar with sea, sea weather, reefs and waves,” Chen said.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
NATIONAL SECURITY: Authorities are working to confirm the identities of the military personnel involved and investigating possible illegal conduct and regulatory violations Authorities are probing possible national security implications after Kinmen police and immigration officers on Sunday found a Chinese woman allegedly posing as a tourist while engaging in prostitution involving more than 10 military personnel. The woman, surnamed Chen (陳), has since been deported, authorities said, adding that investigators are still working to confirm the identities of those implicated, as the records only listed code names and aliases. The case stemmed from a report received by the Kinmen District Prosecutors’ Office on Friday last week from the Jinhu Precinct of the Kinmen County Police Bureau. On Sunday, police, along with the National Immigration
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
RSS