New Delhi, Jul 28 (PTI) India has emerged as the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers, contributing 311,936 maritime professionals to the global shipping industry, an official said on Tuesday, citing BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026.
According to the report, India now accounts for 12.16 per cent of the global seafaring workforce, ranking behind only the Philippines and ahead of China, the Russian Federation and Indonesia.
In 2015, India contributed only 5.2 per cent of the world’s seafarers and ranked fifth globally, behind China, the Philippines, Indonesia and the Russian Federation. Six years later, in 2021, India’s share had grown modestly to 6 per cent, though it continued to remain in fifth position.
“The latest BIMCO-ICS report
for 2026, however, records a decisive breakthrough. 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,” the statement said.
It added that 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.
The report estimates the global supply of seafarers at 2.57 million, while demand has reached 2.55 million, highlighting an increasingly tight global labour market. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal said the government is now pursuing Mission 20 per cent, an ambitious national vision to increase India’s share of the global seafaring workforce from 12.16 per cent to 20 per cent. “Mission 20% is our next national milestone,” Sonowal added.
With the global shipping industry continuing to face a shortage of qualified officers, India’s expanding maritime education ecosystem, internationally recognised training standards and progressive policy framework place the country in a strong position to meet future global demand while advancing the vision of Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. PTI BKS BKS MR
