26 February 2025
RMT Press Office:
Maritime union RMT has today condemned yet another fall in the total number of UK resident seafarers despite a big increase in the number of seafarer jobs to over 160,800.
The number of UK resident Ratings working in the UK shipping industry fell three per cent to below 9,900 while the total number of Ratings increased by 7.2 per cent to 134,250. As a result, only seven per cent of UK resident Ratings hold these jobs.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that most of the increased demand in 2024 was met by Ratings recruited in non-EEA countries.
“These seafarers will be working on P&O style agency contracts that pay below the National Minimum Wage and on rosters that require months at work at sea, with access to shore leave infrequent and poorly regulated, despite this being a core MLC protection.
“While the number of Ratings apprenticeships started in 2024 increased but, at just 60, it is still far too low to reverse this relentless trend of exploiting foreign seafarers at the expense of coastal communities and UK maritime security.
“The Spending Review must bring forward Tonnage Tax reforms to establish a mandatory link to training and employment for UK resident Ratings. This must be underpinned by binding targets for training and employment for UK Ratings”, he said.
ENDS
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