Employment

The current position for seafarer employment is far more positive than might ever have been dreamed of in 2000.  The revived British fleet has managed to maintain employment and boost training, particularly of officers. 

The number of new entrants on officer training programmes continues to rise, with 731 trainees commencing courses at 10 colleges and universities in autumn 2008, 36% of whom were on degree programmes. After the further intakes in January and March/April, the officer trainee intake totals 921.  

In 2007 the UK shipping industry directly employed 96,000 - up by 1,000 from the previous year.  The 2009 report by Oxford Economics on the economic contribution of UK shipping (see Publications) showed that the industry supports 212,000 jobs and that for every job supported in the UK shipping industry a further 2.2 jobs were supported through indirect and induced multiplier effects.