Crewing market stacked towards seafarers as wages continue to rise
Danica Crewing Specialists survey shows seafarers can be choosy when it comes to finding employment
Salaries continue to rise as a shortage of competent crew affects all sectors, meaning seafarers can choose positions based on salary, vessel age and joining date
SEAFARER salaries have continued to rise across the globe, the latest survey conducted by Danica Crewing Specialists found.
Wages increased on all vessel types as the surplus of jobs at sea continued. The survey found Indian senior officers on dry cargo vessels receive the highest wages, 10% higher than their eastern European and Filipino counterparts.
Filipino junior officers are, however, paid less than both their eastern European and Indian peers. Senior ratings remain in demand and saw increasing wages, the survey said.
Danica chief executive Henrik Jensen said the “combination of a general shortage of, and a hunt for, competent seafarers, along with a better financial situation for most vessel owners at present, is making employers more generous with their remuneration and causing wages to continue to increase”.
Worryingly, Jensen said his company had seen the shortage of senior officers “encouraging some owners to accept new hands directly employed in a rank higher than their last rank with their previous employer”.
“We are seeing a steep increase in CVs with fake experience. Seafarers are using certain ‘consultants’ to help with crafting these fake CVs and the level of falsification is rather advanced,” he said.
The crew-favoured job market is illustrated as 58% of seafarers surveyed said they had changed employer at least once this year.
Free internet access, newer vessels, pension plans and medical insurance were key drivers to switching jobs, the survey found.
Just under 5,000 seafarers from a range of vessel segments responded to the survey, Danica said, largely from senior ranks.
A cause for concern is the number of seafarers (25%) that reported a shortage of food and drinking water and the 35% that said they were not paid on time.
One in eight respondents experienced bullying and harassment at sea and 14% reported feeling mentally depressed during their last contract, up from 11% in 2023.
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