India Emerges as World’s Second-Largest Supplier of Seafarers-BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Report

By R Anil Kumar

• India’s rise from FIFTH place in 2015 to the world’s SECOND-largest pool of seafarers in 2026 is a result of the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi

• India now Contributes 12.16% of the Global Maritime Workforce

• Indian officers Constitute 13.41% of the World’s officer workforce, reinforcing India’s position as a global maritime talent hub

• Mission 20% Aims to Make One in every Five Global Seafarers an Indian

Bengaluru, July 31, 2026. 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 estimates that India now accounts for 12.16% of the global seafaring workforce, ranking behind only the Philippines and ahead of China, the Russian Federation and Indonesia.

The achievement marks one of the most remarkable transformations in the history of India’s maritime sector.

In 2015, India contributed only 5.2% of the world’s seafarers and ranked fifth globally, behind China, the Philippines, Indonesia and the Russian Federation. Six years later, in 2021, India’s share had grown modestly to 6%, though it continued to remain in fifth position.

The latest BIMCO-ICS report for 2026, however, records a decisive breakthrough. India’s global share has more than doubled over the past decade to 12.16%, propelling the country to second place worldwide and establishing it as one of the world’s foremost providers of skilled maritime professionals.

India’s strength is particularly evident in the officer cadre. The country now supplies 140,718 officers, accounting for 13.41% of the world’s officer workforce, while 171,218 ratings represent 11.29% of the global ratings serving aboard merchant vessels.

Overall, Indian seafarers today constitute one of the largest and most skilled maritime workforces supporting global trade.

The report estimates the global supply of seafarers at 2.57 million, while demand has reached 2.55 million, highlighting an increasingly tight global labour market. It also points to a continuing shortage of qualified officers worldwide, positioning India as a critical partner in meeting the shipping industry’s future manpower requirements.

India’s emergence as a global maritime manpower hub reflects more than a decade of sustained reforms under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Over the past twelve years, the Government has expanded maritime education and skilling, modernised training infrastructure, increased the capacity of maritime training institutes, digitised seafarer certification and regulatory services through the Directorate General of Shipping, strengthened compliance with international Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping (STCW), and enhanced the employability and global competitiveness of Indian seafarers.

Since assuming charge of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in 2021, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has accelerated the reform agenda through the most comprehensive overhaul of India’s maritime legal framework in decades.

Beginning with the Inland Vessels Act, 2021, the Government has subsequently enacted the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, Indian Ports Act, 2025, Coastal Shipping Act, 2025, Bills of Lading Act, 2025, and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025.

Collectively, these landmark legislations have modernised maritime governance, strengthened seafarer welfare, aligned India’s shipping laws with international conventions, simplified regulatory processes and enhanced ease of doing business across the maritime sector.

Welcoming the report, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal said, ”India’s rise from the fifth-largest supplier of seafarers in 2015 with just 5.2% of the global workforce to the world’s second-largest maritime manpower nation with a 12.16% share in 2026 is a story of vision, resolve and transformative leadership.

This remarkable turnaround has been made possible under the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, whose unwavering commitment over the past twelve years has fundamentally reshaped India’s maritime ecosystem.

From investing in world-class maritime education and modern training infrastructure to digitising seafarer services, reforming maritime laws and creating globally benchmarked standards, his Government has empowered thousands of young Indians to compete and excel on the world stage. Today’s achievement is not merely a statistical milestone, it is a reflection of New India’s growing global credibility, the confidence that international shipping companies place in Indian talent, and our collective resolve to establish India as a leading maritime nation.”

The Union Minister has said the Government is now pursuing Mission 20%, an ambitious national vision to increase India’s share of the global seafaring workforce from 12.16% to 20%. “Mission 20% is our next national milestone. We are expanding maritime training capacity, strengthening shipboard training opportunities, fostering deeper industry-academia partnerships, leveraging digital technologies and creating greater opportunities for young Indians, especially women, to pursue rewarding careers at sea.

Our vision is clear, to ensure that one in every five seafarers serving aboard merchant ships anywhere in the world is an Indian, recognised globally for professionalism, competence and excellence,” Sonowal adds.

With the global shipping industry continuing to face a shortage of qualified officers, India’s expanding maritime education ecosystem, internationally recognised training standards and progressive policy framework place the country in a strong position to meet future global demand while advancing the vision of Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

BIMCO and ICS Report Forecasts Growing Demand of Officers

The Seafarer Workforce Report 2026 from BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) launched forecasts that given the growing demand for STCW certified officers, there will be a need for an additional 113,735 officers by 2030 to operate the world merchant fleet.

The report estimates that 2.57 million seafarers currently serve the fleet, operating 85,148 merchant ships around the globe. The report also estimates that 2026 will see a shortage of 39,100 STCW certified officers and a surplus of 56,890 ratings.

To meet the future demand, it is estimated that an additional 22,747 officers and 8,475 ratings will need to join the workforce each year until 2030, representing an average annual increase of 2.0% and 0.5% respectively.

The Seafarer Workforce Report is published every five years and was last issued in 2021. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the supply and demand balance for STCW certified seafarers.

“The recruitment, training and retention of the seafarer workforce will be crucial to ensuring that our industry is prepared for the future. We have a big collective task ahead of us in working with all stakeholders and the countries that are the biggest suppliers of the seafarers operating our ships.

The report can help ensure that recruitment and employment policies are future focused,” says BIMCO Secretary General & CEO, David Loosley.

Since the 2021 report, demand for STCW certified seafarers has increased by 35%, representing a significant increase from the previous two reports in 2021 and 2015.

The demand for officers has increased by 23.1% and the demand for ratings has increased by 46.3% compared to 2021 levels. The growth in demand for both ratings and officers is likely driven by the expansion of the global merchant fleet and the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Seafarers are the backbone of global trade, and this report reinforces just how important they are to keeping the world economy moving, especially in an increasingly fragmented world. As shipping continues to evolve, attracting more people to careers in maritime is essential.

We must continue our long-standing efforts to engage with young people early and build a strong pipeline of future talent. At the same time, retaining and developing our existing workforce is equally important.

Seafarers play a key role in the industry’s transition to new fuels and technologies. Ensuring they have access to the training and skills needed for this future will be critical. Without continued investment in both recruitment and training, the workforce gap risks growing at a time when the industry needs skilled seafarers more than ever,” says ICS Secretary General, Thomas A. Kazakos.

As the predicted demand for officers will require continued high intakes of STCW certified officers, the report concludes it is essential that maritime education, training and careers at sea are promoted, including information on transitioning to shore-based roles. It is also crucial that levels of seafarer recruitment and retention are regularly and closely monitored by maritime administrations. This will help inform the industry and policymakers of the global supply and demand situation of the workforce.