The shipping industry’s debate over a global seafarer shortage may be focusing on the wrong problem, according to Kuba Szymanski, secretary general of InterManager.
While many in the sector argue that recruitment is the main challenge, Szymanski believes the real issue is whether shipping is properly training, supporting and protecting the seafarers already available to the industry.
He argues that the market picture is more complex than a simple shortage. In some regions, competition is intense for highly qualified officers and crew who meet the standards of top operators. In other areas, experienced seafarers struggle to find secure, reputable and decent employment.
Geopolitical disruption has made the situation worse. The Russia-Ukraine war, tensions between Iran and the United States, and sanctions on Venezuela have reshaped trade and reduced activity in regions where many companies previously operated.
Georgia is one example. Georgian seafarers have long served the industry, often on fleets and routes now affected by war, sanctions and political risk. As opportunities disappear, some may feel pressured to accept work on sanctioned or questionable vessels, exposing themselves to non-payment, abandonment, poor working conditions, criminalization and limited support.
Szymanski argues that the industry should stop talking about a broad shortage of seafarers and focus instead on the shortage of properly trained, experienced and immediately deployable crew at the top end of the market.
The solution, he says, is to invest in training and career progression. If seafarers lack specific skills, they should be trained. If they have experience on smaller or less technical vessels, they should be helped to transition to more advanced fleets and systems.
Some major companies are exploring new recruitment regions, including Ghana, while Vietnam is investing in retraining experienced fishermen for merchant shipping.
Szymanski supports this approach but warns that increasing the number of people in the sector without protecting standards could drive wages down and weaken conditions for existing crews.
Shipping, he argues, does not simply need more seafarers. It needs better training, better recruitment policies and stronger protection for the people already serving the industry.
