In-house crew management and new maritime partnerships
With the ambition to bring the education of seafarers closer to the core business, global oil and shipping group, Monjasa, now sets a new course in their approach to crewing.
The Monjasa Group recently expanded further into crew management, including both officers and cadets, through its technical ship management sister company, Montec.
Monjasa experiences an overall global shortage of skilled seafarers, and the ambition is to improve recruitment and retention across its maritime operations in the Americas, West Africa, the Middle East and Northwest Europe.
“We have made a strategic decision to seize additional ownership of our maritime services”
As part of these developments, Monjasa today announces three new maritime partnerships in Panama, Colombia and Namibia.
Monjasa Group CEO, Anders Østergaard:
“We have made a strategic decision to seize additional ownership of our maritime services. The marine fuels industry is a highly specialised shipping segment, and our long-term ambition is to develop a structured cadetship that promotes high-quality maritime learning opportunities aboard the Monjasa fleet.”
Strengthening maritime relations in Latin America and West Africa
In Latin America, Monjasa have signed new collaboration agreements in Panama and Colombia with the International Maritime University of Panama (UMIP) and the Escuela Naval de Cadetes “Almirante Padilla” (ENAP) in Colombia.
Both Latin American initiatives allow the maritime students to complete their mandatory onboard training aboard Monjasa vessels.
“Panama and Colombia have been key to Monjasa’s maritime development in Latin America. Besides the formal training, these new agreements also reflect our commitment to actively contribute to the local communities we operate in,” says Rasmus Jacobsen, Managing Director Americas.
In Namibia, Monjasa’s extensive maritime operations in West Africa, has also given rise to the country’s first ever cadetship programme – a collective initiative between Monjasa, Montec and the Namibian Maritime and Fisheries Institute (NAMFI). Here, Monjasa already welcomed six cadets from NAMFI, marking the beginning of their 12-month journey at sea aboard three locally deployed Monjasa tankers.
A pipeline of skilled seafarers
Looking ahead, Monjasa plans to increase the number of programmes and enrolled cadets during 2026. This expansion aligns with Monjasa’s commitment to strengthening local relationships and hatching the next generation of maritime professionals.
Besides the three newly agreed partnerships, Monjasa is engaged in similar collaborations in the UAE and Latvia. Here, Monjasa already acts as partner to the Sharjah Maritime Academy and Latvian Maritime Academy, Novikontas Maritime Academy and RTU Liepaja Marine College.
Overall, Monjasa ranks as the 7th largest global marine fuel supplier and controls a total fleet of some 35 vessels.
