Kenya's maritime stakeholders have signed an agreement to unite seafarer organisations [file]
The Republic of India has overtaken China and become the second-largest supplier of seafarers in the world, according to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report, 2026.
According to the report, India has at least 311,936 talented and well-trained maritime professionals in the shipping industry, the report further reveals.
Indian seafarers now comprise 12.16 per cent of the total seafarer workforce, just behind the Philippines and ahead of China, Russia and Indonesia. This is a significant achievement.
India was in the 5th spot in 2015, accounting for only 5.2 per cent of the seafarers. In 2021, it jumped to six per cent, though it remained in the fifth position.
The BIMCO-ICS report 2026 has shown tremendous growth, with India’s share almost doubling in the last 10 years. India’s share has risen, especially in the office cadre, as New Delhi now supplies around 140,718 officers, consisting of 13.41 per cent of the total officer workforce.
There are approximately 171,218 Indian ratings on global ships, with a share of 11.29 per cent. India is not only leading in terms of numbers, but there has been progress in skill development as well.
There are 2.57 million seafarers in the world, though the demand has increased to around 2.55 million.