by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

Recent reports have shown that the shipping industry is currently grappling with a significant global shortage of seafarers.

Rhett Harris, a senior manning analyst at Drewry, told CNBC that the number of vessels has increased dramatically in recent years, but the growth in manpower has not kept pace.

This has led companies to hire less experienced seafarers than they would prefer, with a particular shortage of higher-ranking officers and engineers.

Some employers are even accepting new hires directly into higher ranks despite concerns about insufficient experience and fake CVs.

In a survey conducted between May and September 2024, Danica Crewing Specialists Group collected responses from 4,868 seafarers, primarily from senior ranks.

Henrik Jensen, CEO of Danica, noted that many maritime personnel are opting for shore-based jobs over seafaring roles.

While companies are attempting to attract younger seafarers by offering entertainment and gym facilities on board and shorter voyages of two to four months, younger generations prioritise work-life balance and constant connectivity.

Due to the shortage, Danica highlighted that seafarer salaries are rising globally.

Wage increases have been observed across all vessel types, with Indian senior officers on dry cargo vessels earning the highest wages, about 10% more than their Eastern European and Filipino counterparts.

However, Filipino junior officers earn less than their Eastern European and Indian peers.

The largest global suppliers of seafarers are the Philippines, China, Russia, Ukraine, and Indonesia, according to the 2021 seafarer workforce breakdown report by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and BIMCO.

However, the ICS projects a shortfall of 90,000 trained seafarers by 2026.