Grads turn to sea for careers

HAIKOU: An increasing number of college graduates and high school pass-outs are now turning to sea for a career on board commercial ships.

Li Enhong, an official with China Maritime Superintendency Administration under the Ministry of Transport, said yesterday that a "seaman training program" for college and high school graduates from central and western China has received more applications than ever before.

Ding Yong, Party secretary of the navigation department of Dalian Maritime University, said the number of applications the university received in the second half of last year was "60 percent higher" than in the same period in 2007.