Shipping.fo - 2026 maritime workforce trends: What skills are shipowners looking for today?

Eva Andrésen
3 hours ago
3 min read

In recent years, the maritime labour market has undergone steady and structural change. Increasing safety requirements, growing operational complexity, and the persistent shortage of qualified seafarers have shifted shipowners’ focus beyond technical skills alone toward reliability, experience, and clearly defined processes.

These trends remain highly relevant in 2026.

Global Seafarer Shortage Trends

International organisations such as the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and BIMCO have consistently highlighted the global shortage of qualified seafarers. The greatest pressure is not within the overall workforce, but at senior and highly qualified levels, including masters, chief engineers, and experienced officers.

Several long-term factors contribute to this situation:

increasing technological complexity of modern fleets,
stricter safety and compliance requirements,
ageing workforces in certain regions,
growing administrative and documentation demands.

As a result, shipowners increasingly seek long-term, reliable partners capable of providing stable and well-managed crews rather than short-term staffing solutions.

Changes in Qualifications and Certification Requirements

While STCW requirements remain the foundation, 2026 places greater emphasis on broader competencies. Shipowners increasingly value:

up-to-date safety and specialised training,
practical experience operating under ISM and ISPS systems,
the ability to follow established procedures in daily operations,
accurate and traceable documentation practices.

Inspection practices continue to evolve, focusing not only on formal compliance but also on the effective application of standards in real operational environments.

Reliability as a Recruitment Standard, Not a Region

In today’s maritime labour market, reliability is increasingly defined not by nationality, but by training standards, professional mindset, and the recruitment process behind each placement.

Shipping.fo works with qualified seafarers from a global talent pool. Across all markets, the key differentiator is not origin, but the consistency of selection, verification, and preparation applied to every candidate.

Reliable seafarers typically demonstrate:

solid understanding of international regulations and onboard responsibilities,
the ability to work within structured operational and safety procedures,
experience adapting to different vessel types and company-specific standards,
professional discipline and commitment to contractual and operational continuity.

By applying the same recruitment standards across all regions, Shipping.fo ensures that every candidate meets the expectations of modern shipowners — regardless of geographic background. This approach allows clients to build stable, mixed-nationality crews while maintaining operational consistency and compliance across fleets.

Shipping.fo Perspective: How Precise Recruitment Strengthens Client Operations

Shipping.fo’s experience demonstrates that precise and well-structured recruitment has a direct impact on operational performance. Beyond certification checks, recruitment processes focus on:

relevant experience on specific vessel types,
proven ability to operate within international compliance frameworks,
a professional approach to safety, responsibility, and procedural discipline.

This approach helps reduce operational risk, ensure smoother crew rotation, and build long-term reliability. For shipowners, it translates into clearer processes, fewer unexpected disruptions, and greater confidence in daily operations.

Looking ahead to 2026, the direction of the maritime workforce market is clear: quality, reliability, and transparency of processes remain key drivers of effective fleet management.