Global shipping will need almost 114,000 additional officers by 2030 , as demand for qualified seafarers continues to outpace supply across the world merchant fleet, according to the new Seafarer Workforce Report 2026.
The report, released by BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), estimates that 2.57 million STCW-certified seafarers are currently serving on 85,148 merchant ships worldwide.
However, the figures also point to a growing shortage of officers, with the industry
