WMU Warns of Seafarer Shortage as Half Plan to Leave
The shipping industry faces mounting retention and safety risks, Splash 247 reports, after new research from the World Maritime University (WMU) showed that nearly half of seafarers plan to leave the profession within five years – a trend that could deepen global crewing shortages.
The study, In Search of a Sea-Life Balance in an Adverse Environment, commissioned by the Officers’ Union of International Seamen (OUIS), is based on responses from 4,372 seafarers across 99 nationalities, making it one of the most extensive workforce surveys in recent years.
Excessive workloads remain a central concern. Average working time reached 71 hours per week globally and 79 hours among US seafarers, while limited shore leave and widespread adjustment of work/rest records continue to undermine compliance. Around one-third of respondents reported stress levels classed as severe and potentially dangerous, with poor mental wellbeing particularly evident among US crews.
Retention data is especially alarming for owners and regulators. Almost 50% of respondents said they intend to leave seafaring within five years. Among US seafarers, only 40.2% plan to remain at sea, while 65.3% of those preparing to exit linked their decision to poor mental health.
The report also highlights frustration with safety management systems, which many seafarers view as overly complex and disconnected from operational reality. Similar concerns have been raised previously by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), which has warned that administrative overload is eroding both safety culture and crew wellbeing.
WMU president Maximo Mejia said fatigue, income insecurity, and work-life imbalance are now structurally embedded in the industry, threatening the sustainability of the maritime workforce. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has likewise cautioned that failure to improve working conditions at sea will worsen recruitment challenges and increase safety risks.
Writing for Splash 247, Steven Jones of the Seafarers Happiness Index argued that ships and systems remain designed for an outdated model of seafaring. Until workload, shore leave, and cultural expectations are modernised, he warned, the industry’s recruitment and retention crisis will persist.
