Officers as Prostitutes: Myth or Reality? (A Study on Poaching of Officers in the Philippines)

This descriptive-qualitative research looked into the reasons why a seafarer is likened to a prostitute and in what aspects they are alike. It also aimed to determine from the key informants the practices and or procedures employed by shipping and manning companies in order to fill in the much needed position on board that has become a scarcity in the last years. Likewise it aimed to determine how these manning companies keep their present pool of officers in their roster. What are the strategies employed by the different manning companies in keeping their officers and crew loyal to their respective companies?