India emerges as world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers

• India has emerged as the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers, contributing 311,936 maritime professionals to the global shipping industry, according to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026.

• The report estimates the global supply of seafarers at 2.57 million, while demand has reached 2.55 million.

• India now accounts for 12.16 per cent of the global seafaring workforce, ranking behind only the Philippines and ahead of China, Russia and Indonesia.

• The achievement marks one of the most remarkable transformations in the history of India’s maritime sector.

• India’s global share has more than doubled over the past decade to 12.16 per cent, propelling the country to second place worldwide and establishing it as one of the world's foremost providers of skilled maritime professionals.

• India’s strength is particularly evident in the officer cadre. 

• The country now supplies 140,718 officers, accounting for 13.41 per cent of the world’s officer workforce, while 171,218 ratings represent 11.29 per cent of the global ratings serving aboard merchant vessels.

• Overall, Indian seafarers today constitute one of the largest and most skilled maritime workforces supporting global trade.

• The government is now pursuing Mission 20 per cent.

• It is an ambitious national vision to increase India’s share of the global seafaring workforce from 12.16 per cent to 20 per cent. 

Major govt reforms in maritime sector

Over the years, the government has:

a) Expanded maritime education and skilling.

b) Modernised training infrastructure.

c) Increased the capacity of maritime training institutes.

d) Digitised seafarer certification and regulatory services through the Directorate General of Shipping.

e) Strengthened compliance with international Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping (STCW).

f) Enhanced the employability and global competitiveness of Indian seafarers.

• The government has accelerated the reform agenda through the most comprehensive overhaul of India’s maritime legal framework in decades. 

• Beginning with the Inland Vessels Act, 2021, the government has subsequently enacted the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, Indian Ports Act, 2025, Coastal Shipping Act, 2025, Bills of Lading Act, 2025, and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025. 

• Collectively, these landmark legislations have modernised maritime governance, strengthened seafarer welfare, aligned India’s shipping laws with international conventions, simplified regulatory processes and enhanced ease of doing business across the maritime sector.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)