The industry is officially short 39,000 officers — Seafarer Workforce Report 2026 is out

BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) have published their new maritime workforce report — and the numbers speak for themselves. Already in 2026 the world fleet is short of 39,100 STCW-certified officers, and by 2030 the industry will need an additional 113,735 officers on top of today's numbers.

Around 2.57 million seafarers currently crew 85,148 merchant ships worldwide. Demand for certified seafarers has grown 35% since the 2021 report: officers up 23%, ratings up 46%. The ratings market, meanwhile, is saturated — the report records a surplus of almost 57,000 people.

To close the gap, nearly 23,000 new officers must join the profession every year until 2030. The authors urge flag administrations to monitor recruitment and retention closely, promote maritime education and present career paths honestly — including the transition to shore-based roles.

What it means for seafarers

The takeaway is simple: a CoC and sea time are worth more now than ever — this is an officer's market. If you have been postponing your next certificate, now is the time: demand for officers will only grow.

Fresh officer vacancies at every level — in the jobs section on seajobs.pro.