The world’s largest direct-membership organisation for shipowners, Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) have launched the new Seafarer Workforce Report that warns of a serious officer shortage by 2026.
While the demand for STCW (International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) certified officers is constantly been increased, there will be a need for an additional 89,510 officers by 2026 to operate the world merchant fleet, according to the report.
The Secretary-General of ICS, Guy Platten emphasised the need for new training and recruitments, saying that “to meet the future demand for seafarers it is vital that the industry actively promotes careers at sea and enhances maritime education and training worldwide, with a focus on the diverse skills needed for a greener and more digitally connected industry.”
The new report also highlights a current shortfall of 26,240 STCW certified officers, even though there has been a 10.8% increase in the supply of officers since 2015. This shortfall could be due to an increase in officers needed onboard vessels, with an average of 1.4 officers per berth, according to the report.
Furthermore, the Seafarer Workforce Report said 1.89 million seafarers currently constitute the global merchant fleet, operating over 74,000 vessels around the world.
In addition, some officer categories are in especially short supply, according to BIMCO and ICS, which noted that there is a shortage of officers with technical experience especially at the Management Level.
On the bright side, in the past five years, the maritime industry has made progress in reducing officer turnover rates from 8% to 6%, retaining qualified seafarers and increasing the number of years that they serve at sea.
