India Becomes World's Second-Largest Supplier of Seafarers

 

India has become the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers to the global merchant navy, contributing 3,11,936 maritime professionals and accounting for 12.16% of the global seafaring workforce. The findings come from the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026, jointly released by the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). India now ranks behind only the Philippines, moving ahead of China, Russia, and Indonesia. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal welcomed the report and credited the milestone to over a decade of maritime reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India's Rise from 5th Place (2015) to World's 2nd-Largest Seafarer Pool (2026)

India's climb has been steady but accelerated sharply in recent years. 

1. In 2015, the country ranked fifth globally with just a 5.2% share of the world's seafarers, behind China, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Russia. 
2. By 2021, its share had inched up to 6%, still in fifth position.
3. The 2026 report marks a decisive breakthrough, with India's global share more than doubling to 12.16%, propelling it to second place worldwide. 

Sonowal called it "a story of vision, resolve, and transformative leadership," attributing the turnaround to sustained investment in maritime education, training infrastructure, and digital governance under PM Modi's leadership over the past twelve years.

India Now Contributes 12.16% of the Global Maritime Workforce

The report estimates global seafarer supply at 2.57 million against a demand of 2.55 million, pointing to a tight labour market and a persistent shortage of qualified officers worldwide. This gap positions India as a key manpower partner for the global shipping industry in the years ahead.

Indian Officers Constitute 13.41% of the World's Officer Workforce

India's strength is most visible at the officer level, where it supplies 1,40,718 officers, or 13.41% of the world's officer workforce, handling navigation, command, and engineering roles. Additionally, 1,71,218 Indian ratings make up 11.29% of the global ratings workforce, covering deck and engine-support duties. Together, these figures reflect one of the largest and most skilled maritime workforces supporting global trade today.

This growth has been underpinned by full digitisation of seafarer certification through the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), stronger compliance with international STCW standards, expanded training institute capacity, and a sweeping legislative overhaul between 2021 and 2025, including the Merchant Shipping Act 2025, Indian Ports Act 2025, Coastal Shipping Act 2025, Bills of Lading Act 2025, and Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 2025.

Mission 20% Aims to Make One in Every Five Global Seafarers an Indian

The government has now set its sights on Mission 20%, aiming to raise India's global seafarer share from 12.16% to 20%. Sonowal said the plan involves expanding maritime training capacity, increasing shipboard training opportunities, deepening industry-academia partnerships, and creating more career pathways for young Indians, particularly women, to join the maritime sector. The mission is aligned with the broader Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.