Faststream Group News

London maritime business are hiring again, according to global shipping industry recruiter Faststream. The Southampton headquartered company reports that it has seen a 20% rise since the start of the year in vacancies for commercial positions across a range of business types including shipowners, insurers and consultancies. “We sense that our clients are feeling much more positive about the future and are especially hiring people in business development and commercial roles. This is also having a spill-over affect in other areas with a rise in the need for people to fill business support functions,” said Faststream Group CEO Mark Charman. “Freight rates may still be low and business tough for many, but the volume of maritime related hires in the U.K.

The latest Maritime Employment Report from international specialist recruiter, Faststream, places a sharp focus on the gap that exists between perception and reality across the industry. Not surprisingly, seafarers seeking a shore career tend to focus on the traditional and more accessible  roles such as superintendent, fleet manager and harbour master. They perceive the more remote professions of law or insurance to be out of reach despite a large proportion of their shore based colleagues stating the importance of having a seafarer in the office.

Faststream Employment Review reveals pay rises across maritime sector. The latest Faststream Maritime Employment Review shows that despite shipping industry woes, salaries across the sector continue to rise. Based on the responses of 4000 shipping professionals working in all the main shipping centres as well as seafaring officers worldwide, the survey by specialist maritime recruiter Faststream shows that half of the respondents reported a 5% + salary rise over the past 12 months. However, 30% of seafarers reported a decrease in their salary.

Maritime recruitment specialist Faststream appointed a new Vice President to manage its team of recruitment specialists in the USA. Tamara Ellis, a former senior employee with Ranstad, the world’s second largest staffing organisation, will be responsible for developing Faststream’s growing presence in the Maritime, Oil & Gas and Logistics markets throughout the Americas. Based in Fort Lauderdale, Ellis has both management and hands-on recruiting experience within US and global staffing organisations. “Tamara is an outstanding catch for Faststream’s US business," said Faststream’s Group CEO Mark Charman. “This is an exciting opportunity to develop a well-established and respected business," said Ellis.

The latest report by shipping industry recruiters Faststream reveals that there is a rising global demand for ex-seafarers in shore based positions. In its Maritime Employment Review - Technical Shipping published today (20 May 2011), Faststream reveals an upsurge in candidate placements in 2010/11. Globally speaking, the average age of a technical shipping candidate in the past 12 months was 42 and the average salary of £55K (USD $89K / SGD $111K). Typically, the company was able to find and place a candidate within nine weeks.

The British government’s drive to lower net migration by reducing the availability of Tier 2 visa certificates is already having an impact on a wide range of UK based shipping companies and maritime services providers, according to specialist shipping industry recruiter Faststream. On 19 July 2010, the UK Border and Immigration Agency introduced a temporary cap on the total number of Sponsored Skilled General (Tier 2) visas that will be issued whilst it consults on a permanent limit. “This move has effectively rendered many shipping companies’ sponsor licences useless and a number of our clients are expressing serious concerns that they won’t be able to fill crucial UK based vacancies in the coming months.

Christian Lange has become the managing partner of Faststream AS, the Oslo based arm of international maritime recruitment specialist Faststream Recruitment Ltd. Commenting on the appointment, Faststream Group CEO Mark Charman said: “Christian is a shipping man through and through with years of shipbroking experience under his belt who really understands the sector. After two years with Faststream, I’m delighted that he has become a partner in our fast growing firm. Oslo born Christian Lange (53) began his career in shipping in 1975 as a shipbroker in Hamburg. He has worked in a variety of positions for United Arab Chartering (1978-79)…