The shipping industry is contending with a worldwide shortage of seafarers, and it is fueling a troubling mix of fake resumes, accidents at sea, and elevated freight rates.
"Companies have to employ seafarers with less experience than they would ideally like," added Harris, who noted that those in the higher ranks, and engineers in particular, are in shorter supply than deck officers.Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and the ongoing Russian-Ukraine conflict have resulted in a knock-on effect on the availability of skilled seafarers, experts told CNBC.
"It is vital that we actively recruit a more diverse workforce if we are to meet the shortfall of seafarers needed to keep the industry thriving, it is one of the biggest challenges our industry is facing at the moment," said ICS.No longer an appealing career For those who grew up with the internet and phones at their fingertips, a life at sea without constant connectivity may not be ideal, said Drewry's Harris.
"There are a lot of people who are polishing their CVs to get higher ranks and higher salaries," said Jensen, who discovered thousands of such embellished resumes after trying to confirm said experiences with the seafarers' previous employers."There's a shortage, a huge shortage … It is affecting me. I am not getting suitable people ," said a captain in a global shipping company, who requested that CNBC not use his name out of fear of reprisal from their company.