The global merchant shipping industry employs a substantial workforce of seafarers from various nationalities. Here’s an overview of the key statistics:
Number of Merchant Seafarers Worldwide
The worldwide population of seafarers serving on internationally trading merchant ships is estimated at 1,892,720. This total comprises:
- 857,540 officers
- 1,035,180 ratings[1]
Top Nationalities of Seafarers
The largest suppliers of seafarers, for both officers and ratings, are:
- Philippines
- Russian Federation
- Indonesia
- China
- India[1]
It’s worth noting that while these countries are the primary sources of seafarers, the industry draws its workforce from a diverse range of nationalities. For instance, in the European Union alone, there are nationals from 84 non-EU countries holding valid Certificates of Competency (CoCs) as masters or officers[2].
Number of Merchant Ships
The global merchant fleet is extensive and continues to grow:
- There are over 50,000 merchant ships trading internationally[1][4]
- As of January 2023, the world’s merchant fleet consisted of 105,500 vessels of at least 100 gross tons (gt)[3]
- Of these, 56,500 ships were over 1,000 gt[3]
- Another source indicates that as of 2023, the global fleet comprises 118,928 merchant vessels[5]
Additional Insights
- The international shipping industry is responsible for carrying approximately 90% of world trade[1][4]
- The world fleet is registered in over 150 nations[1][4]
- Panama remains the most popular flag state for merchant vessels, followed by Liberia, the Marshall Islands, Hong Kong, and Singapore[5]
- More than 50% of the merchant fleet is owned by Asian companies, while European companies own about 39%[5]
This data underscores the truly global nature of the merchant shipping industry, with a diverse workforce operating a vast fleet of vessels that play a crucial role in international trade[1][3][4][5].
Citations:
[1] https://www.ics-shipping.org/shipping-fact/shipping-and-world-trade-global-supply-and-demand-for-seafarers/
[2] https://www.emsa.europa.eu/publications/reports/download/7832/5218/23.html
[3] https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/tdstat48_FS014_en.pdf
[4] https://www.ics-shipping.org/shipping-fact/shipping-and-world-trade-largest-beneficial-ownership-countries/
[5] https://www.ener8.com/merchant-fleet-infographic-2023/
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchant_navy
[7] https://cdn.statcdn.com/Statistic/260000/264024-blank-754.png?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjC5qPNwMmKAxUNL1kFHYfcDzcQ_B16BAgJEAI
[8] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/seafarers-in-the-uk-shipping-industry-2023/seafarers-in-the-uk-shipping-industry-2023
[9] https://globalmaritimeforum.org/insight/s-e-a-f-a-r-e-r/
[10] https://www.iims.org.uk/world-merchant-fleet-report-2022-everything-you-need-to-know/