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SUBSCRIBESubscribe to the print or electronic edition of MarineNews at www.marinelink.com/renewsubscr/Renew04/subscribe.html or e-mail Kathleen Hickey at [email protected] DAILY NEWS via E-MAIL Twice every business day we provide breaking news, tailored to your speciÞ cation, delivered FREE directly to your e-mail. To subscribe visit http://maritimetoday.com/login.aspx POST & SEARCH JOBSJob listings are updated daily and help match employers with qualiÞ ed employees. Post a position or keep abreast of new employment opportunities at http://www.maritimejobs.com ADVERTISE MN offers a number of print and electronic advertising packages. To see our editorial calendar and advertising rates, visit www.marinelink.com/AdvRates/Rates.asp Online Resources EDITOR?S NOTEThe third quarter brings serious challenges to the domestic waterfront. Separately, and even as the greater economy continues its recovery, lingering high unemployment in other sectors continues to dog the rebound. That said; it seems ludicrous to say that the most serious of looming maritime issues is the dearth of qualiÞ ed personnel who want to work on the docks, on the boats and in shipyards. And yet, a good percentage of maritime executives will tell you just that. WhatÕs a mother to do? In this issue of MarineNews Ð one which has as its lead focus, ÒManning: Recruitment & Reten- tionÓ Ð we nevertheless spend more time talking about training than perhaps anything else. ThatÕs because the most forward thinkers in marine transportation, Kirby Corporation among them, are convinced that only with the continued investment in people through skills development will they be able to attract and keep the best of possible employees. ItÕs hard to argue with that tenet, espe- cially given the explosive growth and continued parallel success that Kirby has demonstrated over time. Although increased volume of business typically means a degradation of service to customers, Kirby has shown that this doesnÕt always have to be the case. The story begins on page 32. Continuing our focus on employees and mariners, itÕs true that the United States has not ratiÞ ed the MLC 2006 code, and probably never will. That doesnÕt mean you canÕt take care of those mariners in the manner that they deserve. That effort, of course, can take the shape of any number of initiatives. On noisy, busy workboats that accomplish a myriad of missions on the same day, we can all agree that it is to not only important to help them hear better, to protect that hearing and also make operations that much safer. One sure way to do that is through the use of wireless communications. In this issue, and out in advance of the coming North Ameri- can offshore wind power boom, youÕll Þ nd that there is more than one ÔtakeÕ on that idea. If necessity is the mother of all inventions, then it also wonÕt be any surprise that technology and emerging trends combine to round out the balance of our coverage in this monthÕs edition. On one hand, it circles back to training requirements that, via continued improvements in simulation equip- ment, demand the delivery of breathtakingly realistic training scenarios (tailored speciÞ cally for any number of different platforms) for seafarers and those tasked with sending the best of possible mari- ners onto the boats. Soon to be gone forever are the days when maritime operators will accept generic simulation training for their personnel. The same holds true for naval architects and equipment designers whose clients are looking for innovative ways to get the job done better, safer and quicker. No matter how you look at it, this edition is about service and equipment providers rising up to meet the challenges that we alluded to at the start of this note. For our part, we never doubted that they could. [email protected] Keefe, Editor, [email protected] Download our AppsiPhone & Android6 MNOctober 2013MN October2013 Layout 1-17.indd 6MN October2013 Layout 1-17.indd 69/30/2013 11:01:11 AM9/30/2013 11:01:11 AM