The experience is leaving the industry
The officer shortage clusters at the second-in-command ranks and concentrates on the vessels where certification does not transfer.
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The shortage
The shortage
0.0%
Aggregate seafarer counts get argued about — certificate registries overstate active supply.
The shape of the shortage doesn't. It clusters at the second-in-command ranks — chief officers and second engineers — and concentrates on specialized vessels where certification doesn't transfer.
Drewry projects the gap reaching 10% by 2030. The training pipeline can't close it in time.
Sources — Drewry Manning Annual Review 2025/26 · WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs 2021 · BIMCO/ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2021 →BalancedMild tightnessTight supplySevere shortage
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