CONCESSIONS & INVESTMENTS

Making the move is a tough sell

14 years ago

The majority of demand for skilled ports professionals is coming from emerging markets – the challenge is persuading people to go there, says Mark Charman, chief executive of Faststream.

Finding the right people to re-locate to remote locations like Gladstone, Queensland can be difficult. Credit: Greens MPs

“For example, there is quite a lot of demand in West Africa. But some of the locations are less than desirable, especially for a family, and it becomes a real challenge finding the people,” he says.

“Clients want a bit of a hybrid; experienced ports people who ideally already have experience working in emerging markets, and that means you are looking at a very small number. In some respects, salaries are part of attracting people. But generally they will want to go back to Europe when they have ‘done their time’ – they don’t necessarily want to stay in West Africa. So it becomes a bit of a revolving door finding people.”

There is also considerable demand for ports experience in South America but with the language considerations posing an additional challenge. “It is hard to find people with the Portuguese/Spanish language skills able to do that,” says Mr Charman.

He says there is also strong demand from Australia for people with a specialist background, particularly in LNG – and finding the right people is difficult. “A lot of clients are paying through the roof to get the right people. There is a shortage of LNG experience in Australia.”

Being employed in the growing LNG sector around Gladstone, for example, can mean living and working in some very difficult locations, where accommodation is not easy to find, and there is not enough schooling or infrastructure to support people.

“It is difficult to get people to go there because it is so far out in the wilds,” says Mr Charman. “And then there’s the question of moving the family. For many, there really isn’t available accommodation, schools or facilities to maintain a reasonable lifestyle.”

For those who take the plunge, there are some clear rewards. Obviously, good money is attractive, for a start. “And if you look at the projects these people work on, these are world-class projects which are fantastic to have on your CV. Many people perceive going to Australia on such a project as a case of toughing it out – and they will be highly marketable when they return.”