Looming officer shortage opens door to new crewing nations
- Columbia Group CEO Mark O’Neil said traditional talent pools in Russia and Ukraine face ageing workforces that are not being replaced
- He expected China, Indonesia, Türkiye, Egypt, Africa and South America to play a growing role in meeting global crewing needs
- O’Neil stressed that economic hardship continues to drive maritime careers but called for expanded training capacity to maintain standards
O’Neil also highlighted a recent shift in Asia, especially China, where shipowners are increasingly open to long-term partnerships with foreign shipmanagers
