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The Seafarer Workforce Report 2026, published by BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), forecasts a significant increase in the demand for STCW-certified officers in the coming years: By 2030, an additional need for 113,735 officers is expected to adequately operate the global merchant fleet, according to BIMCO.
Currently, 2.57 million seafarers are employed on 85,148 merchant ships worldwide. The report indicates that by 2026, a shortage of 39,100 STCW-certified officers is anticipated, while there is simultaneously a surplus of 56,890 ratings. To meet future demand by 2030, it is estimated that an additional 22,747 officers and 8,475 ratings will need to be hired annually. This corresponds to an average annual increase of 2.0% for officers and 0.5% for ratings.
Growing demand for seafarers
The Seafarer Workforce Report is published every five years and provides an analysis of the balance between supply and demand for STCW-certified seafarers. The current report shows that the demand for these professionals has increased by 35% since the last report in 2021. In particular, the demand for officers has risen by 23.1%, while the demand for ratings has increased by 46.3%. According to BIMCO, these developments are likely due to the expansion of the global merchant fleet and the recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
