Depending on seafarers from Russia and Ukraine
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has drawn attention to the high number of seafarers of Russian and Ukrainian origin currently employed in the shipping industry. Representing 80% of the worlds merchant fleet, the organisation has warned of further supply chain disruptions should the free movement of Ukrainian and Russian seafarers be impeded.
The Seafarer Workforce Report, published in 2021 by Bimco and ICS, reports that 1.89 million seafarers are currently operating over 74,000 vessels in the global merchant fleet. Of this total workforce, 198,123 (10.5%) of seafarers are Russian, 71,652 of them are officers. Ukraine accounts for 76,442 (4%) of seafarers, 47,058 of them are officers and 29,383 are ratings. Combined, they represent 14.5% of the global workforce.
The draconian travel restrictions brought on by the pandemic have already resulted in a shortage of seafarers to crew merchant ships. A possible ban on seafarers from nations at war will make the manning of vessels even more difficult. (sh)