NEW DELHI, Aug 4 – India has emerged as the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers, accounting for more than 12% of the global maritime workforce, according to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026.
The report says India now contributes 311,936 seafarers to the global shipping industry, representing 12.16% of the world’s maritime workforce. The country ranks behind only the Philippines and ahead of China, Russia and Indonesia.
India’s rise marks a significant shift over the past decade. In 2015, the country accounted for just 5.2% of the global seafaring workforce and ranked fifth worldwide. By 2026, its share had more than doubled, lifting it to second place globally.
The report also highlights India’s growing strength in senior maritime roles, with 140,718 officers accounting for 13.41% of the world’s officer workforce.
Global demand for seafarers continues to rise, with the report estimating 2.55 million positions against a global supply of 2.57 million, while warning of a persistent shortage of qualified officers.
Indian Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal described the achievement as evidence of the country’s expanding global influence in the maritime sector.
He attributed the growth to sustained investment in maritime education, modern training infrastructure, digital certification systems and reforms aimed at aligning India’s shipping industry with international standards.
The government has also introduced a series of maritime laws since 2021 to modernise shipping governance, improve seafarer welfare and strengthen the ease of doing business in the sector.
India is now pursuing Mission 20%, an initiative aimed at increasing its share of the global seafaring workforce from 12.16% to 20%, with the goal of having one in every five merchant ship seafarers worldwide come from India.
The report comes as Indian seafarers have drawn international attention for continuing to operate commercial vessels through conflict-affected regions, including the West Asia and Black Sea, helping sustain global trade despite heightened security risks.
