UK’s Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) has launched a year-long Careers at Sea National Awareness Campaign to end sea blindness and raise awareness of the shipping industry and the endless career opportunities available.
The UK shipping industry supports 650,000 jobs and now is facing a shortage of new talent, with only 600 cadets joining the sector in 2023—far below the 2,000 required annually to maintain a sufficient supply of homegrown seafarers. The shortfall threatens both economic growth and social well-being, as shipping plays a vital role in the UK’s economy, MNTB notes.
A career in shipping, whether at sea or on shore, is an incredibly rewarding choice, with those that enter the industry often spending their entire career in shipping. There are significant opportunities to transition from an at sea to on shore role and to enter the industry at a junior level and climb to be a senior executive.
… said the Director of the Merchant Navy Training Board, Kathryn Neilson, adding that sea blindness is a significant barrier with many individuals who would thrive in the industry unaware of the opportunities it presents and the campaign aims to change that by promoting the importance of the industry to the wider public, in locations away from traditional maritime areas to show that a career in shipping can be for everyone.
The campaign, launched at the MNTB board seminar in Glasgow, aims to inspire a new generation of seafarers and address the shortage of new talent. The initiative includes a revamped Careers at Sea brand, a new website and a new advertising campaign to fight against “sea blindness”— a lack of awareness among potential candidates about career opportunities in the shipping industry.
We need more people to take up a career in maritime, which is why the Government contributes towards training costs and is modernising training for seafarers.
… commented Maritime Minister, Mike Kane
