Maritime Charities Group – Seafarer Demographics Report published

Circular No: NP/172/25

 

TO ALL SHIPPING BRANCHES AND REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Our ref: S1/1

 

6^th October 2025

 

Dear Colleagues

 

Maritime Charities Group – Seafarer Demographics Report published

 

Further to circular no. 142/24 of 5^th June 2024, the Maritime Charities Group, which includes the Merchant Navy Welfare Board that your union sits on, has completed its survey. The report into its findings, Seafarers 2040: Understanding UK Demographics and Welfare Needs^[1] was published last month.

 

The report estimates that the number of working seafarers in the UK (including fishers) could fall by approximately 6% (from 35,000 to 33,000) over the next fifteen years. 

 

Overall, however, this report’s findings are frustrating and limited in its use, particularly on the Post-P&O fight back against low cost crewing and flags of convenience. The report’s findings around crewing levels, lack of sleep and shore leave generally back up the Union’s policies, but fails to use the word fatigue which is the term recognised by the maritime unions, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the ILO and the IMO for the fundamental problem caused to seafarers and maritime safety from commercially aggressive rostering practices in the shipping industry. 

 

The National Executive Committee is considering the MCG’s report in further detail, including our ongoing relationship with maritime charities which are heavily reliant on employers for their funding. 

 

I would be grateful if you could bring the content of this circular to the attention of all Shipping Branch members. You will be kept advised of all further developments.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Eddie Dempsey

General Secretary

 

 

^[1] The full report can be downloaded here.