OSM at 25 is all about people

“IT’S ALL about people.” This has been the vision of OSM Maritime Services which celebrated its 25 years recently, as they continue to serve the Filipino seafarers worldwide.

OSM is a rare company that acknowledges its people, that they are behind the success of the institution for the past 25 years.

OSM started in 1991 and is now one of the biggest and most outstanding maritime services and offshore companies in the world. It is devoted to give only the best services and work experiences for their seafarers and staff.

That is what they mean with “all about people.”

According to OSM chair, Rear Adm. Adonis Donato, it was in 1991 when a Norwegian businessman named Bjorn Tore Larsen put up a manning agency for the Filipino seafarers.

Donato said in the beginning, they only had 13 people doing all the work.

Everyone did their part and helped each other make OSM understand its vision. During their early years, Donato admitted, it was really hard to do everything with just a small number of people doing all the stuff. But as the years passed by, through the leadership of Mr. Larsen, they were able to work out the rough patches and the ins and outs of the business.

They slowly grew into what they are now. OSM totals 10,000 manpower with 26 offices.

During the OSM 25th anniversary celebration, Mr. Larsen and his team flew from Norway to thank and acknowledge his partners in the Philippines. It was a well-attended occasion for the entire OSM family, their officers and staff for the past 25 years, including our Filipino seafarers who started their career with OSM in the maritime and offshore industry.

In the said event, OSM mentioned quite a few of its accomplishments. Even though they have made a lot of difference in the industry, it didn’t stop them from thinking and continuing to innovate to make the lives of their people better.

Donato announced that one of the most significant programs of OSM was giving their seafarers the privilege to become regular workers and not just contractual workers.

Normally, seafarers were employed on a per contract basis. As long as they have a contract with a manning agency, that’s the only time they were covered with protection and benefits.

Seafarers’ contracts take effect from the time the immigration officer stamped its departure on their passports and contract ends upon their arrival, with an arrival stamp from the Philippine immigration.

Donato said, with OSM, Filipino seafarers are considered regular employees, protected even during their vacation, complete with benefits upon retirement.

They received financial benefits, social security benefits and most importantly, retirement benefits. These are some of the innovations OSM made to improve the lives of the people working with them.

Donato hopes the changes and innovations OSM had implemented, would somehow become a standard in the maritime industry: “A better life for every seafarer in the world.”

OSM Philippines president Mailyn P. Borillo said, all OSM accomplishments and challenges, were all because of the OSM people.

She also added that what started off as a company with 13 people and three offices worldwide, now has 10,000 employees with 26 offices worldwide.

Truly at the end of the day, OSM is correct. “It’s all about the OSM people.”

Congratulations, OSM!

(Susan Andes, also known as Susan K., can be heard over Radyo Inquirer dzIQ 990 AM, Monday to Friday, 10:30 a.m.-12 noon. For audio and video live streaming visit www.ustream.tv/channel/dziq. For more information, visit www.bantayocw foundation.org. The Bantay OCW Foundation satellite office is located at 3/F 24H City Hotel, 1406 Vito Cruz Extension corner Balagtas Street, Makati City. Tel: [632] 899-2424 Bantay OCW Helpline: 0998-9912629. E-mail: [email protected]/[email protected])