Prepared by BIMCO and ICS, this comprehensive report details the global seafarer workforce supply and demand situation. With contributions from national maritime administrations, shipping companies, maritime education and training institutions and industry experts, this report is considered to be an essential tool for those tasked with developing crewing and training strategies.

The 2026 edition contains:

• Detailed estimates of the current supply and demand for seafarers for the world fleet, including country-specific figures
• details of the demographic composition of the supply of seafarers
• forward projections for the likely supply and demand situations over the next five years
• identification of various maritime training, recruitment and retention trends and their potential consequences.

Contents Listing

1. Introduction

2. Methodology

3. Current Supply of the Global Seafarer Workforce

4. Current Demand for the Global Seafarer Workforce

5. Future Supply and Demand for Seafarers

Appendices

Appendix A - Estimated Global Supply of Seafarers in 2021

Appendix B - Estimated Average Operational Crewing Levels by Ship Type and Tonnage

Appendix C - Maritime Education and Training (MET) Institutions Questionnaire

Appendix D - Methodology and Data Limitations

Appendix E - List of Respondents

Additional Information