India Becomes World’s Second-Largest Supplier Of Seafarers
NEW DELHI-India has emerged as the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers, contributing 311,936 maritime professionals to the global shipping industry, according to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026.
The report said India now accounts for 12.16 per cent of the global seafaring workforce, ranking behind only the Philippines and ahead of China, the Russian Federation and Indonesia.
In 2015, India accounted for 5.2 per cent of the world’s seafarers and ranked fifth globally, behind China, the Philippines, Indonesia and the Russian Federation. The country’s share has more than doubled over the past decade.
The country now supplies 140,718 officers, accounting for 13.41 per cent of the global officer workforce, while 171,218 ratings represent 11.29 per cent of the global ratings serving aboard merchant vessels.
The report estimates the global supply of seafarers at 2.57 million against a demand of 2.55 million, highlighting a tightening labor market. It also points to a continuing shortage of qualified officers worldwide, positioning India as a key contributor to meeting the shipping industry’s future manpower needs.
The Indian government said it is now pursuing “Mission 20 per cent” to increase India’s share of the global seafaring workforce from 12.16 per cent to 20 per cent. (IANS)
