An estimated 23,700 UK seafarers were active at sea in 2024, a decrease of 2% compared to the 2023 figure, according to the UK Department of Transport.
In 2024, the number of UK seafarers active at sea by type was 10,620 certificated officers, 9,880 Ratings, 1,700 uncertificated officers and 1,500 officer cadets.
The statistics reflect numbers as of 30 June 2024 for both the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the UK Chamber of Shipping (CoS) data.
Between 2012 and 2020 numbers have been broadly stable with the exception of an increase in 2018 (due to a large increase in Ratings related to changes in the CoS membership).
Related to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, numbers decreased markedly in 2021 and remained low in 2022. For 2023 onwards, data provided by MCA has been calculated using a different methodology and is not comparable with previous years.
The majority of UK seafarers working for companies within the membership of the UK Chamber of Shipping were male (84%), with larger female representation among uncertificated officers and ratings.
In 2024, there were 42,130 valid certificates which were issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to work on UK vessels, 14,550 of these were UK nationals, the UK government said, adding that these figures had been broadly stable between 2010 and 2020 but saw a decline in 2021 and 2022. For 2023 onwards, data provided by MCA has been calculated using a different methodology and is not comparable with previous years.
The total number of UK seafarers active at sea remained broadly stable between 2012 and 2020 at around 24,000 to 25,000 each year.
When comparing 2024 to 2023, the total number of UK seafarers active at sea decreased by 2%.
In 2024, the number of certificated officers fell by 3% when compared with 2023, but the number of uncertificated officers increased by 10% to the highest level since 2016. The number of officer cadets also saw an increase of 3% in 2024, following a fall in 2023 to the lowest level since 2007.
The majority of UK seafarers active at sea in 2024 (CoS members) were male (84%); of certificated officers, 94% were male, while 60% of uncertificated officers were male.
In 2024, the majority (51%) of uncertificated officers in the catering/hotel/other department were female for the first time on record. Overall, 81% of ratings were male. Male ratings accounted for an estimated 96% of deck and 98% of engine ratings, compared with 70% for the hotel, catering or other ratings group.
In 2024, an estimated 11% of the seafarers active at sea with CoS member companies were UK nationals, with 9% of seafarers being from EEA countries.
An estimated 35% of certificated officers were from the UK, with 35% from EEA countries. In comparison, 7% of ratings were UK nationals and a further 85% of this group were from outside the EEA.
This statistical release provides estimates for the number of UK nationals working as seafarers, including some demographic breakdowns. The release also covers some statistics on non-UK national seafarers who are qualified to work in the UK shipping industry.
