Maritime Crew Shortage Puts Training, Retention and Connectivity in Focus

The maritime workforce challenge is about more than the number of people available to sail. At Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2026 in Manila, ship operators, crew managers and training specialists focused on whether seafarers have the right qualifications, working conditions and support as ships adopt new technology and alternative fuels. Those needs are already shaping recruitment and training decisions.

A 2026 workforce report from BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) estimates a current shortage of approximately 39,100 officers holding STCW certificates. It projects that the sector will need an additional 113,735 officers by 2030. The scale of the forecast is striking, but conference discussions stressed that a single global headcount can obscure differences between vessel types, operating segments, job roles and experience levels.

Shortage figures need operational context

At the event, which ran October 20–22 at the Shangri-La The Fort hotel, more than 750 maritime professionals discussed workforce supply, employment, training standards and changes to shipboard work. On the second day, panelists examined what the reported shortage means in practice. Pia Melling questioned whether crew shortages are actually preventing ships from sailing, shifting attention from headline totals to the availability of qualified people for specific positions.

That distinction matters to operators planning crew rotations and recruitment. A large pool of seafarers does not automatically meet demand if employers need a particular certificate, vessel experience or technical skill. The conference assessment published by Seatrade Maritime on October 22 described the shortage as a long-running concern, while emphasizing that requirements vary across the industry.

The discussion also brought employment conditions into view. Recruitment costs, brokerage fees and the prospects for experienced seafarers to move into shore-based careers can affect how the sector attracts and retains people. Panelists considered whether cargo operators could adapt crew-management practices used in the passenger ship sector, including support for professional development and steps to keep experienced personnel in maritime work.

Digital systems add to training demands

Artificial intelligence and other digital systems are changing the skills expected on board. Conference sessions considered AI’s role in operational decision-making and the need for crew members to combine established maritime knowledge with the ability to use new tools. For employers, technology adoption therefore carries a workforce requirement: seafarers need training that matches the systems they are expected to work with.

The International Maritime Organization’s review of the STCW Convention and Code was also discussed. In the review’s second phase, 22 identified areas of deficiency are being addressed, covering emerging technologies, alternative fuels and crew qualifications. The conference linked this work to the need to keep maritime training aligned with changes in ship operations.

Alternative fuels raise questions about who pays

Ships using LNG, methanol and ammonia require crew members with fuel-specific knowledge and training. As operators bring these fuels into service, training costs become part of workforce planning. The conference discussion centered on how those costs should be shared by shipowners, ship operators and employees.

Raal Harris said in the conference assessment that some seafarers facing high demand for qualified crew are nevertheless expected to complete training in their own time and without compensation. That arrangement puts the cost of skills development on workers even as employers need those skills for vessel operations. The panel’s discussion pointed to a practical question for companies: how to make required training accessible while deciding who covers the time and expense.

The IMO has continued to publish temporary training guidelines for personnel working on alternative-fuel vessels. Guidelines for ships using methanol and ammonia were published in July 2026. For operators, preparing crews before a vessel enters service can connect training plans to the fuels and systems that personnel will encounter at work.

Connectivity is part of crew conditions

Reliable internet access aboard ships was another concern raised by seafarers during sessions at the conference. Seatrade Maritime’s assessment reported that weak connectivity on some vessels can leave crew members unable to use basic online services, including payment transactions, for months. Participants said seafarers favor better connectivity options over restrictions on internet use.

That issue sits alongside the industry’s discussion of changing ship-to-shore communication and new work models. Connectivity affects how seafarers stay in touch and manage everyday tasks while at sea, and conference participants connected those conditions to career opportunities and employment practices.

Preparation starts before vessels enter service

Captain Somasundar Nair, executive director of Fleet Management Limited, argued that maritime training needs to develop alongside new technologies and alternative fuels. He said preparation for future ships should begin well before they enter service. Fleet Management reported operating more than 30 dual-fuel vessels and training over 1,750 seafarers and technical personnel in LNG, methanol, ammonia and digital systems. The company also reported personnel retention above 95%.

The figures offer an example of how one operator is approaching crew development, while the broader conference discussions point to connected workforce pressures across the sector. The projected demand for officers is only one measure: employers also need people with the right qualifications, access to relevant training and working conditions that support retention. For fleet planners, the immediate task is matching crew preparation to the vessels and technologies they expect to operate.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye