Page 18: of Marine News Magazine (August 2023)

17 19

Column

Workforce

Labor Shortages, Climate Change &

Technology: They’re All Related

By Robert Kunkel, President, Alternative Marine Technologies

Many problems in our “New World” can be solved more quickly than ever due to the speed at With those delays, the labor markets across many, if not which information now travels. Gone are the countless all, markets have changed. “Help wanted” signs hang in long days of research, because often our questions can be every storefront, of? ce building and government agency. answered instantaneously at a computer terminal or on a In no uncertain terms, the maritime industry has been handheld mobile device. Traditional investment, research, dealing with labor problems, and none of this is news to science and industry have all attempted to recon? gure their our industry. The mariner shortage has been discussed at business practices to accept that information speed. Un- length for years, and it is becoming increasingly dif? cult fortunately, government regulation and bureaucracy have to crew not only U.S. ? ag commercial vessels, but foreign not, and as a result, we continue to allow certain problems registered ships as well. The labor shortage does not only of the “New World” to be pushed down the road before affect crew labor; it has affected the labor required to ful- long-term decisions are made. ? ll our shipyard production, service and repair companies, © Pajaros Volando / Adobe Stock 18 | MN August 2023