Potential shortage of almost 150,000 officers by 2025, new report warned

The latest five-year BIMCO/ICS Manpower Report forecasts a serious future shortage in the supply of seafarers. The report identifies a current shortfall of about 16,500 officers (2.1 per cent), but also a need for an additional 147,500 officers by 2025 to service the world merchant fleet. The global supply of officers is forecast to increase steadily, but this is predicted to be outpaced by increasing demand.