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The bond and retention of Chinese seafarers for international shipping companies: a survey report

Author

Listed:
  • Bin Wu

    (University of Nottingham)

  • Glory Gu

    (FLEET Management Limited)

  • Chris James Carter

    (University of Nottingham)

Abstract

The shortage of junior seafarers in China in recent years raises a salient question as to how international shipping companies can improve retention rates among Chinese crews. This issue has become increasingly prominent in the context of a global lockdown resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. This paper examines the dilemma through the lens of the “bond” between seafarers and the shipping companies they service, a term used to reflect the need to recognise, consent and integrate into management systems, safety culture, and organizational values. The value of this bond concept is investigated in a survey of Chinese crews (N = 318). The paper aims to reveal the features and underlying factors of the bond, and its influence on needs, perceptions and seafaring careers in foreign shipping companies. The study finds that the majority of respondents do not have a bond with their shipping company, but typically do wish to develop one. Furthermore, this form of attachment appears to be closely related to career satisfaction and retention. To address the shortage of junior seafarers in China, we call for the development of mutual trust, respect and shared values between global seafarers and international shipping companies. A number of policy recommendations are provided.

Suggested Citation

  • Bin Wu & Glory Gu & Chris James Carter, 2021. "The bond and retention of Chinese seafarers for international shipping companies: a survey report," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:josatr:v:6:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1186_s41072-021-00087-1
    DOI: 10.1186/s41072-021-00087-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bin Wu, 2004. "Participation in the global labour market: experience and responses of chinese seafarers," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(1), pages 69-82, January.
    2. Lijun Tang & Pengfei Zhang, 2019. "Global problems, local solutions: unfree labour relations and seafarer employment with crewing agencies in China," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(3), pages 277-291, May.
    3. Lijun Tang & Mark Oliver S. Llangco & Zhiwei Zhao, 2016. "Transformations and continuities of issues related to Chinese participation in the global seafarers’ labour market," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(3), pages 344-355, April.
    4. Zhiwei Zhao & David Walters & Desai Shan, 2020. "Impediments to free movement of Chinese seafarers in the maritime labour market," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 31(3), pages 425-443, September.
    5. Bin Wu & Kee-hung Lai & T. C. Edwin Cheng, 2006. "Emergence of ‘new professionalism’ among Chinese seafarers: empirical evidence and policy implications," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(1), pages 35-48, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eric Owusu Darko & Ilias Vlachos, 2022. "Creating Valuable Relationships with Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Providers: A Multiple-Case Study," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-22, June.

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