BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026

About BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026

• It is  is regarded as the most comprehensive assessment of global supply of and demand for seafarers.
• Published by: It is jointly published by BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).
• Frequency: It is published in every five years. 
• First edition: The first edition of the report was published in 1990.
• The report provides:
  • Assessment of global seafarer supply and demand for the international merchant fleet.
  • Analysis of workforce demographics, including nationality, rank, age, and gender.
  • Forecast of merchant fleet growth and its implications for future seafarer workforce requirements.
• Findings of the report:
  • Estimated Global Seafarer Supply: The global supply of seafarers in 2026 is estimated at 2,565,580 seafarers, of which 1,048,980 are officers and 1,516,600 are ratings.
  • Seafarer Workforce Gender Diversity: The number of female seafarers has increased, mainly in officer positions.
  • Seafarer Workforce Age Profiles:  The average age of management-level officers has slightly decreased since 2021. Most operational-level officers and support-level ratings are now in the 31–40 years age group.
  • Estimated Global Seafarer Demand: The global demand for International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) -certified seafarers in 2026 is estimated to stand at 2,547,790. There is a demand for approximately 1,088,080 officers and 1,459,710 ratings.
• Findings related to India:
  • India has emerged as the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers, contributing 311,936 maritime professionals to the global shipping industry.
  • India now accounts for 12.16% of the global seafaring workforce, ranking second globally, behind the Philippines and ahead of China, the Russian Federation, and Indonesia.
  • India has a strong presence in the officer cadre:
    • 140,718 officers, accounting for 13.41% of the world’s officer workforce.
    • 171,218 ratings, representing 11.29% of the global ratings serving aboard merchant vessels.
    • Overall, Indian seafarers constitute one of the largest and most skilled maritime workforces supporting global trade.
  • The report highlights an increasingly tight global labour market and a continuing shortage of qualified officers worldwide, positioning India as a critical partner in meeting the shipping industry’s future manpower requirements.
• Recommendations: It is essential that:
  • Maritime education and training and careers at sea are promoted with information on transitioning to shore-based roles; and
  • Levels of seafarer recruitment and retention are regularly and closely monitored by maritime
    administrations to inform the industry and policymakers of the global supply and demand situation of the seafarer workforce.

About International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) The convention was adopted in 1978 by a conference at the International Maritime Organization(IMO) in London and entered into force in 1984. The convention was the first to establish minimum basic requirements for training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers on an international level. The Convention prescribes minimum standards relating to training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers which countries are obliged to meet or exceed. One important feature of the Convention is that it applies to ships of non-party States when visiting ports of States which are Parties to the Convention. The Manila amendments to the STCW Convention and Code were adopted in 2010 marking a major revision of the STCW Convention and Code.