According to a new workforce report released by the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the global shipping industry will need an additional 113,735 certified crew members by 2030 to keep pace with fleet growth, highlighting growing concerns about the industry’s ability to recruit and retain qualified seafarers.
The 2026 Seafarer Workforce Report, released on Thursday, coincides with “Seafarer Day.” The report estimates that the current global fleet of 85,148 commercial vessels is crewed by 2.57 million seafarers. Despite this large workforce, the report predicts a shortage of 39,100 captains and officers certified under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) this year, while there remains a surplus of 56,890 ratings in the industry during the same period.
The report states that to meet expected demand, the shipping industry will need to recruit approximately 30,000 additional crew members annually by 2030.
The BIMCO-ICS report, published every five years, provides one of the most comprehensive assessments of the global seafarer labor market for the industry.
“Recruiting, training, and retaining the crew workforce is essential to ensuring our industry is prepared for the future,” said David Loosley, BIMCO Secretary General and CEO.
We face a major collective task in working with all stakeholders and the countries that supply the most crew to ships. This report helps ensure that recruitment and employment policies are forward-looking.
The findings show a sharp rise in demand for certified crew since the previous report in 2021. Overall, demand for STCW-certified personnel has increased by 35%, primarily due to the expansion of the global commercial fleet and the industry’s post-pandemic recovery.
Since 2021, demand for officers has increased by 23.1%.
Thomas A. Kazakos, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping, said that as the shipping industry undergoes significant technological and environmental changes, attracting new talent and retaining experienced staff will be crucial.
“Seafarers are the backbone of global trade, and this report further emphasizes their importance in keeping the world economy running, especially in an increasingly divided world,” Kazakos said.
As the shipping industry continues to evolve, it is vital to attract more people to maritime careers. We must sustain long-term efforts to engage with young people early on and build a strong talent pipeline for the future.
Kazakos also stressed that as the industry adopts alternative fuels and emerging technologies, today’s workforce will need to acquire new skills.
“Seafarers play a key role in the industry’s transition to new fuels and technologies,” he said. “Ensuring they have access to the training and skills needed for the future is essential. Without sustained investment in recruitment and training, the workforce gap could widen, at a time when the industry needs skilled seafarers more than ever.”
The report recommends expanding maritime education and training programs, promoting seafaring career development—including pathways to onshore maritime roles—and strengthening monitoring of global recruitment and retention trends. The organizations stated that better human resources data will help governments and the industry respond more effectively to future workforce shortages.
The report comes as the shipping industry marks Seafarer Day, amid growing concerns over the safety and well-being of crew members operating in conflict zones.
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