Details of findings from the BIMCO/ISF Manpower 2010 Update have been presented at a meeting of the International Maritime Organisation Maritime Safety Committee in London (30 November).  The findings are based on data provided by governments, shipping companies and crewing experts, and also incorporate the views and perceptions of senior executives in shipping companies and maritime administrations. The statistical analysis was carried out, as in previous studies, by the Warwick Institute for Employment Research in the UK and this year, for the first time, from Dalian Maritime University in China which has helped obtain input from Asian countries where it had previously been difficult to obtain definitive data.

BIMCO/ISF note that this is the most comprehensive study so far with more robust information from almost all the main seafarer supply countries. The 2010 Update highlights that the shipping industry is likely to face a challenging future for crewing, and the results indicate that the industry will most probably face a continuing tight labour market, with recurrent shortages for some officers, particularly if shipping markets recover.

Further details and a summary of the findings can be found on the BIMCO website.

https://www.bimco.org/en/Members/News/2010/2010/11/30_supply_and_demand.aspx