India Becomes World’s Second-Largest Supplier of Seafarers

India has overtaken China to become the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers, according to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026.

The report states that India now provides 311,936 trained maritime professionals, accounting for 12.16% of the global seafarer workforce. The Philippines remains the largest supplier, while China, Russia, and Indonesia follow behind India.

The achievement marks significant progress for India, which ranked fifth globally in 2015 with just 5.2% of the world's seafarers. By 2021, its share had increased to 6%, and the latest report shows that the country's contribution has nearly doubled over the past decade.

India currently supplies 140,718 officers, representing 13.41% of the world's maritime officers, and 171,218 ratings, making up 11.29% of the global ratings workforce.

The report notes that the global seafarer workforce stands at approximately 2.57 million, while industry demand is around 2.55 million, highlighting the continued need for skilled maritime professionals.

Officials attribute India's rise to government reforms aimed at expanding maritime education, improving training facilities, digitalising certification processes, and strengthening compliance with international Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW).

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, credited the country's progress to sustained investments in the maritime sector, saying the reforms have enabled Indian seafarers to compete successfully on the global stage.

The Indian government is now targeting a further increase in its global market share under its Mission 20% initiative, with the goal of ensuring that one in every five seafarers working worldwide is an Indian national.

The report concludes that India's continued investment in maritime education, internationally recognised training standards, and supportive policies positions the country to play a leading role in addressing the global shortage of qualified seafarers while advancing its long-term Maritime Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

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