The Hong-Kong based shipping conglomerate Anglo Eastern has initiated a ‘Mission 30’ initiative primarily to increase the proportion of management-level merchant navy officers aged under 30 to 30 per cent from the current 1 per cent by 2030. ‘Mission 30’ programme of Anglo Eastern, one of the largest employers of Indian seafarers, is expected to bolster the careers of millions of young Indians as India is a major provider of well-trained human resources needed to operate complex cargo ships of various kinds.
As Indian economy is on its way to becoming the third biggest in the world and likely to cross $10 trillion by the next decade, ‘Mission 30’ will provide opportunities to young Indian officers of merchant navy to earn and learn as the country is poised to become a reservoir of biggest skilled manpower in the maritime world in the near future. India is the youngest country as 65 per cent of the population is below 35 years of age, and the average median age is 29 years.
‘Mission 30’ skilling and guidance programme aligns with Prime Minister vision of attaining ‘Viksit-Bharat’ through power of youth. The company has created personalised career ladder maps under ‘Mission 30’ plan which will offer a tailored roadmap to every merchant navy officer highlighting the gap between his or her current position and the ideal career trajectory going forward. It has also created focused career programmes to prepare its merchant navy officers for timely promotions.
Anglo Eastern mainly recruits merchant navy officers in South India through its Indian arm based in Kochi, Anglo Eastern Ship Management India. Also, Anglo Eastern Maritime Academy guarantees placement to all pass outs on ‘on board training berths’ aboard cargo ships of various types.