The seafarer shortage… a crisis that strikes at the heart of the global shipping industry

These challenges include climate change and the intensification of hurricanes, which affect cruise safety, as well as increasing environmental pressures driving the reduction of carbon emissions and the adoption of environmentally friendly technologies, as well as the increasing effects of geopolitical tensions in several key regions.

Another crisis that is considered one of the biggest challenges facing the industry is the crisis of “shortage of personnel” working in the sector, a crisis highlighted by a report by the American network “CNBC” reviewed by “Sky News Arabia”. website.

According to the report, the shipping industry is facing a global shortage of seafarers, leading to a worrying combination of fake resumes, accidents at sea and an increase in the number of seafarers. Shipping rates.

Rhett Harris, Senior Recruitment Analyst at Drewery said:

• “We have seen a continued shortage of sailors.”
• Although the number of ships has increased dramatically in recent years, by the thousands per year, the growth in the manpower required for these ships has not kept pace with this growth.
• Companies have to hire seafarers who have less experience than they would ideally like.

According to the report, today’s young people prioritize work-life balance and do not want to commit to a profession that requires long periods away from home.

Experts also said that the Houthis are attacking in The Red Sea And the war entered Ukraineone of the factors that led to an indirect impact on the availability of qualified seafarers.

The report quoted Vertistream’s head of global research, Daejin Lee, as saying: “Both Ukraine and Russia have supplied many professional sailors… However, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia has already reduced the supply of sailors from both countries, as they face each other.” … General labor shortage due to the war.”

• The Philippines, China, Russia, Ukraine and Indonesia are the world’s largest suppliers of seafarers, according to a recent seafarer workforce distribution report released by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICS) and BIMCO. In 2021.
• Before the war in Ukraine, Russian and Ukrainian sailors made up nearly 15 percent of the global shipping workforce, according to ICS data.
• ICS predicts a shortfall of 90,000 trained seafarers by 2026. “Policymakers need to develop national strategies to address seafarer shortages,” the maritime organization said.

ICS President James Hardin said: “It is essential that we actively recruit a more diverse workforce if we are to meet the shortage of seafarers needed for the industry to thrive, which is one of the biggest challenges facing our industry at the moment.”

It is no longer an attractive profession

Current maritime workers are also opting for more jobs on land rather than offshore, said Henrik Jensen, CEO of Danica Kroing Specialists Group, an international company specializing in maritime recruitment and employment services. Furthermore, the declining appeal of the naval profession among the younger generations may be the last nail in the coffin of the profession.

• In the past, seafarers’ wages were high enough to make them a financially attractive option. But today, young people prioritize work-life balance and don’t want to commit to a career that requires long periods away from home.
• For those who grew up with the internet and phones at their fingertips, life at sea without a constant connection may not be ideal.
• As a result, more and more companies are trying to attract the younger generation by providing on-board entertainment and fitness facilities, as well as short cruises of two to four months.

The most prominent reasons

For his part, the Secretary General of the International Federation of Shipping Associations in Egypt, Dr. Captain Hesham Hilal, said in special statements to the “Ektisad Ski News Arabia” website that the current shortage of sailors at the global level is not new. , but a persistent deficit, as the sector faces a persistent shortage of seafarers worldwide for a number of reasons, including:

• Most young people do not welcome the idea of ​​working at sea, given the long periods spent at sea.
• They are not allowed to go ashore or visit the places they are traveling to, in accordance with the decision to prevent sailors from going to the mainland of supplier countries, which causes shortages.
• This deficit undoubtedly has a negative impact on the maritime transport industry, especially in light of the lack of trained workers and the lack of necessary competencies, which negatively affects the safety and movement of ships.
• It is expected that this deficit will increase in the coming periods, which will result in problems related to the operation of ships and thereby affect the maritime transport industry.

He emphasized that it is necessary not to ignore the current trend in the production of autonomous ships, which will lead to a change in mechanisms and work concepts, in addition to their ability to reduce operational costs and improve safety rates in the light of accidents related to human error.

He explained that this trend would contribute to reducing the accident rate, but would negatively affect the employment rate of sailors.

Immediate crisis

In turn, a maritime expert, Captain Saleh Hegazi, said in exclusive statements to the “Ektisad Sky News Arabia” website:

• The problem of the shortage of seafarers is undoubtedly causing a crisis in the global maritime sector, especially in light of the requirements and standards required to work in this important sector.
• There are prerequisites – including academic qualifications, degrees and qualifications involving safety and rescue – which are the basic standards for working in the sector.
• The availability of qualified workers to work in that sector – at different levels – is a clear challenge, which of course affects the shipping sector as a whole and the normal course of business.

He pointed out that the requirements regarding studies, training and expertise provided by numerous universities, institutes and specialized offices have been tightened, explaining that any drop in the level of sailors working in this area affects in one way or another the movement and transactions of maritime shipping and various sectors which are related to it.

• The shipping sector, considered the backbone of global trade, is facing a suffocating crisis due to a severe shortage of skilled seafarers.
• This crisis has not only affected the efficiency of maritime operations, but its consequences have extended to higher transport costs, increased operational risks and delays in global supply chains.

Fake resumes and accidents

Returning to the American “CNBC” report, industry experts are quoted as confirming that the lack of supply of sailors has encouraged companies to offer higher salaries in order to attract talent from a limited number, but also candidates trying their luck in vacant positions for which they are not qualified.

Analysts say fake CVs have become more widespread in the industry since the shortage crisis, with increasing numbers of seafarers faking experience on board ships.

“There are a lot of people who polish their resumes to get higher ranks and higher salaries,” said Jensen, who discovered thousands of resumes after trying to verify experiences mentioned with sailors’ previous employers.

Om Maritime CEO Subhangshu Dutt said the safety of ships and crew could be compromised due to a combination of inexperience, lack of proper maintenance and fatigue.

Clear implications

World Bank advisor, Dr. Mahmoud Anbar, indicated in exclusive statements to the website “Iqtisad Sky News Arabia” that the world is facing a serious crisis in the lack of qualified human resources, which has led to an increasing reliance on technology and…artificial intelligence As an alternative to humans.

Despite the importance of technology, the generalization of this approach to all sectors is inappropriate, especially in light of the crisis of slowing investment flows that the world is currently witnessing.

Anbar added that total reliance on technology cannot be the only solution to achieve development, but it requires strengthening qualified human resources, especially in the necessary vital sectors.

He explained that this lack of human resources extends to vital areas such as the maritime sector, as it will have a major impact on international trade. He expected the shortage of seafarers to lead to a growing crisis in the global shipping sector and related industries, stressing the importance of the critical role seafarers play in ensuring the smooth continuity of commercial operations..

Maritime transport is an integral part of the global supply chain, transporting more than 80 percent of global volume Global trade By sea, according to the United Nations Trade and Development Organization.

Seafarers’ wages make up a large portion of ships’ operating costs, which are expected to remain high as companies raise wages in an attempt to attract and retain talent.

Experts agree that the seafarer shortage will continue for several years, acknowledging that it is among the biggest obstacles facing the industry.