Following up on its previously announced plan, Shell Ship Management Ltd. said Wednesday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the American Maritime Officers (AMO) union formalizing the addition of U.S. seafarers to Shell’s officer cadre. In February, Shell announced it would begin a U.S.-focused recruitment drive to help meet the company’s need for highly qualified liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship’s officers to fill positions on its fleet of international LNG carriers (see Daily GPI, Feb. 11). “We have worked to create an attractive and competitive package for qualified U.S. officers interested in international LNG assignments,” said Bob Salmon, general manager of shipping for Shell Trading (US) Co. “We are pleased that MARAD [Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration] has focused on LNG training, as the highly trained U.S. officers will enhance our existing skill pool, and that AMO has been proactive in working with Shell to develop international U.S. marine officers. It is a win-win situation for everyone involved.” The MOU between Shell and AMO begins immediately. According to Salmon, U.S. mariners will benefit from Shell’s long experience in LNG shipping. Shell said its various companies have equity, management or chartering positions in around a quarter of the world’s LNG carriers, either directly or through joint ventures and currently manage 31 LNG carriers. Shell also employs more than 700 fleet marine officers with LNG experience and a further 200 officers are also enrolled in Shell’s LNG onboarding program. The number of LNG carriers Shell manages will grow rapidly over the next two years as it has also been selected by Nakilat Shipping (Qatar) Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd., to provide a full range of shipping and marine services including the management and manning of a further 25 LNG carriers.

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