London, United Kingdom. Global shipping will need nearly 114,000 additional officers by 2030 as demand for qualified seafarers continues to outpace supply, according to the Seafarer Workforce Report 2026 released by BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping.
Report findings
The report estimates that 2.57 million STCW-certified seafarers are currently serving on 85,148 merchant ships worldwide. It puts global seafarer supply at 2,565,580, including 1,048,980 officers and 1,516,600 ratings.
Demand is estimated at 2,547,790 seafarers, made up of 1,088,080 officers and 1,459,710 ratings. The figures indicate an estimated shortfall of 39,100 STCW-certified officers this year, despite a surplus of 56,890 ratings.
Rising demand
The report is published every five years and is regarded as one of the shipping industry’s most comprehensive assessments of the supply and demand balance for certified seafarers.
Its latest edition comes as the sector faces fleet expansion, new fuels, digital technologies, geopolitical disruption and a more demanding regulatory environment.
According to the report, demand for STCW-certified seafarers has increased by 35 per cent since the previous edition in 2021. Officer demand rose by 23.1 per cent, while demand for ratings increased by 46.3 per cent, linked to the expansion of the global merchant fleet and the recovery of activity after the Covid-19 pandemic.
2030 outlook
BIMCO and ICS forecast that shipping will need an additional 113,735 officers by 2030 to operate the world merchant fleet.
To meet that demand, the industry would need to bring in around 22,747 officers and 8,475 ratings each year until the end of the decade.
Industry response
ICS Secretary General Thomas Kazakos said the findings showed the importance of seafarers to global trade and the wider economy.
“Seafarers are the backbone of global trade, and this report reinforces just how important they are to keeping the world economy moving, especially in an increasingly fragmented world,” Kazakos said.
“As shipping continues to evolve, attracting more people to careers in maritime is essential. We must continue our long-standing efforts to engage with young people early and build a strong pipeline of future talent,” he added.
