We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
  • ::COVID-19 COVERAGE::
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • MATERIAL HANDLING
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • LIFT TRUCKS
  • PODCAST ETC.
    • Podcast
    • Blogs
      • Analytics & Big Data
      • Best Practices
      • Dispatches
      • Empowering Your Performance Edge
      • Logistics Problem Solving
      • One-Off Sound Off
      • Public Sector Logistics
      • Two Sides of the Logistics Coin
      • Submit your blog post
    • Events
    • White Papers
    • Industry Press Room
      • Upload Your News
    • New Products
      • Upload Your Product News
    • Conference Guides
    • Conference Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • DCV-TV
    • DCV-TV 1: News
    • DCV-TV 2: Case Studies
    • DCV-TV 3: Webcasts
    • DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
    • DCV-TV 5: Solution Profiles
    • MODEX 2020
    • Upload Your Video
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • MATERIAL HANDLING
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • LIFT TRUCKS
  • PODCAST ETC.
    • Podcast
    • Blogs
      • Analytics & Big Data
      • Best Practices
      • Dispatches
      • Empowering Your Performance Edge
      • Logistics Problem Solving
      • One-Off Sound Off
      • Public Sector Logistics
      • Two Sides of the Logistics Coin
      • Submit your blog post
    • Events
    • White Papers
    • Industry Press Room
      • Upload Your News
    • New Products
      • Upload Your Product News
    • Conference Guides
    • Conference Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • DCV-TV
    • DCV-TV 1: News
    • DCV-TV 2: Case Studies
    • DCV-TV 3: Webcasts
    • DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
    • DCV-TV 5: Solution Profiles
    • MODEX 2020
    • Upload Your Video
Home » Maritime sector sees growing officer shortage due to competition from shore-based jobs

Maritime sector sees growing officer shortage due to competition from shore-based jobs

Shortfall could grow worse as container volumes rebound when pandemic recedes, Drewry says.

drewry shortage chart
June 3, 2020
DC Velocity Staff
No Comments

The maritime container shipping sector is seeing a growing shortage of officers on the merchant ships that carry international cargo, even though fewer vessels are currently in service due to the global economic recession triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report from U.K.-based shipping consultancy Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd.

The report found that the trend is caused by the reduced attractiveness of a career at sea, as well as rising man-berth ratios which will inflate future manning costs, Drewry said in its latest “Manning Annual Review and Forecast” report.

Drewry found that the net supply of officers has been slowing in recent years and is not expected to keep pace with rising demand. And that shortfall of senior crew will grow even starker when countries start relaxing coronavirus restrictions and reopening markets that have been closed for months.

Drewry estimates that there is currently a global officer shortage equating to around 2% of overall demand, though presently that statistic is masked by the temporary idling of vessels due to the pandemic. The shortfall will re-emerge once the merchant fleet is fully reactivated, and represent a tightening of supply conditions compared to 2019, when the market was estimated to be in broad balance, the firm said.

“Seafaring is no longer the attractive occupation it once was as competition from shore-based roles intensifies and the lifestyle with its associated mental health challenges becomes less appealing,” Drewry’s senior manning analyst, Rhett Harris, said in a release. “The Covid-19 outbreak has dealt a further blow to the occupation’s reputation with high profile news stories of stranded crews and enforced longer tours of duty.”

Although the trend will be troubling to shipowners that are under pressure to trim costs in light of weak anticipated earnings, it could spell higher wages and improved working conditions for maritime officers.

“Further wage pressure will arise to maintain competitiveness with shore-based work, particularly following the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak which highlighted the health and lifestyle risks of a career at sea. As well as wage rates, the overall work-life balance dictated by tour lengths and leave rations are expected to become key considerations for employees and employers,” Harris said.

Officer shortage to widen and inflate manning costs: The current officer shortfall to crew the global merchant fleet is forecast to widen, despite the dampening effect of Covid-19.. Read more: https://t.co/a45cdtF1zb pic.twitter.com/KGYqO2mTD6

— Drewry (@DrewryShipping) June 3, 2020
Transportation Maritime & Ocean
KEYWORDS Drewry Shipping Consultants
  • Related Articles

    Loaded container volume down nearly 13% in Oakland

Recent Articles by DC Velocity Staff

CMA/CGM to add LNG-powered ships to U.S. service

North American entries rank high in Toyota Material Handling design contest

IBM survey says digitalization trends will sweep trucking industry by 2030

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular Articles

  • Walmart launches plan to build micro-DCs inside dozens of retail stores

  • Relaxed regulations for drone parcel delivery to take effect in March

  • Gartner survey signals increased investment in resilience over the next two years

  • Increasing Urgency for Vaccine Supplies Drives Launch of New Vaccine Manufacturing Resources on Thomasnet.com

  • What Level of Automation is Right for Your Warehouse?

Now Playing on DCV-TV

7d82a38f f300 4f37 aac7 93ec8a60c08a

Heads Up: Your CEO Could be Calling!

DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
The challenge on the table is how to make the best of a tumultuous transportation market. Watch this video to hear some tips to consider. Check out last week's 2MW: https://blog.tranzact.com/2-minute-warning/note-to-ceos-dont-blame-the-logistics-department OTR with Peter Tirschewell, from the Journal of Commerce...

FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

  • Time to rethink your lift truck power

  • Warehouse Management System Project Toolkit

  • Solving Talent Management Challenges Now and In the Future

  • Shaping Up Last Mile Delivery to Surpass Customer Expectations

View More

Subscribe to DC Velocity Magazine

GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • NEWSLETTERS
  • ADVERTISING
  • CUSTOMER CARE
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
  • STAFF
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright ©2021. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing