The Seafarer Workforce Report is a useful tool to assure that the backbone of world trade is sufficient in numbers and skills. The insight and data contributions from shipping companies, national maritime administrations and maritime training institutions to the report is invaluable in gaining a picture of what the industry must prepare for the future of seafarer recruitment and retention.
Authored by ICS and BIMCO, the report details the global seafarer workforce supply and demand situation. With contributions from national maritime administrations, shipping companies, maritime education and training institutions and industry experts, the paper is an essential tool for those tasked with developing crewing and training strategies.
‘The Seafarer Workforce Report is a vital tool for the shipping industry to better understand the trends impacting our seafarers and plan for the future. The 2021 report warns of a shortfall in officers by 2026, and this will likely be exacerbated by seafarers turning away from careers at sea due to the impact the pandemic has had on our workforce’… Tim Pack, Senior Marine Advisor (Manning & Training), International Chamber of Shipping, said.
In fact, the paper warns that the industry must significantly increase training and recruitment levels if it is to avoid a serious shortage in the total supply of officers by 2026. Given the growing demand for STCW certified officers, it predicts that there will be a need for an additional 89,510 officers by 2026 to operate the world merchant fleet.
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In addition, Seafarer Workforce Report includes country-specific data; details of the demographic composition of the supply of seafarers; forward projections for the likely supply and demand situations over the next five years; and identifies maritime training, recruitment and retention trends and their potential consequences.
To meet the future demand for seafarers we must actively promote careers at sea and ensure seafaring is seen as the vital profession it is. A review of the STCW is a good place to start. We should also enhance maritime education and training worldwide to ensure crews have the green and digital skills that will be vital in the decades to come. Having a highly skilled and diverse workforce will be essential for weathering future challenges for maritime
…Mr. Tim Pack concluded.
