Selandia looking for sailors

Selandia Marine Services aimed to make Kolkata its recruitment hub.

"The company is set to acquire 56 new ships by 2008 and would emerge as one of the biggest players in the Indian maritime industry and we believe Kolkata is slated to regain its place amongst the biggest gateways or hub of trade to South Asia," claimed S Srivastava, managing director, Selandia Marine Services Pvt Ltd.

The company had a training institute at Mumbai.

It opened an office in the city on December 1 and was sending applications from the aspirants to Mumbai for seafarer training.

In the first 15 days of its operation, the company has placed 35 applications to Mumbai out of 50 responses.

"We are looking for more trained seafarers for managing 130 vessels that we own and 50 more, which we would be acquiring in the two years," he added.

In the next few months the company aimed to invest over $1 million for the expansion of the existing institute at Mumbai.

Bulk of the money would be needed for adding five simulators, each costing between Rs 40-50 lakh.

Presently the institute had two of them.

"We would provide secured job through permanent and contractual agreements as well as long term employment opportunities," the MD said.