What’s brewing in crewing?

Nazery Khalid examines the issues and challenges faced in crewing and by seafarers

As demand for shipping services grows in tandem with increasing global trade volumes, offshore energy exploration and production (E&P) activities, fishery and other maritime activities, the focus is growing on crewing and the wellbeing of seafarers. Crew members of ships orseafarers – from deckhands to marine engineers and masters/captains – are the unsung heroes of shipping and the marine industry, and by extension of their importance, the global economy. They are the backroom boys and girls whose hard work, sacrifices and dedication, issues and challenges are hardly seen on the public radar nor often mentioned in the mainstream media. However, despite the romanticism, heroism and nobility often associated with seafaring, the shipping industry is facing what can only be described as a crisis with regard to recruitment. The shipping industry is, it seems, struggling to position itself as a highly desirable profession, partly due to the challenging nature and tough working conditions of seafaring.