Myanmar is trying to attract more foreign shipping lines to fly its national flag to egg on its maritime industry, sources in the Marine Administration Department said yesterday.

Nineteen foreign vessels flying the Myanmar flag have earned the country about US$100,000 (S$172,000) in revenue so far, the sources said.

As part of its efforts, Myanmar recently set up a promotional office in Singapore.

The push for foreign shippers is also intended to create job opportunities for local seafarers, sources added.

Official statistics show there are 60,000 registered seafarers in Myanmar, of whom over 12,000 work for overseas shipping lines, up from only 9,000 in 1996.

To upgrade the skills of maritime engineers and seafarers, 400 of them are being dispatched to five South Korean coastal shipping lines this month.

The government has also formed an Overseas Seafarers Association and established the country’s first maritime university in 2002.

Bilateral recognition of seafaring competency certificates from many countries, including the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of Britain, has been secured.