Global Seafarer Shortage in the Age of Automation “A Cross National Analysis of Maritime Workforce Gaps, MET System Performance, and Digital Readiness”

The maritime transport sector is confronting an intensifying shortage of qualified seafarers, particularly licensed officers, which poses substantial threats to global logistics and shipping sustainability. This study conducts a comparative analysis of four key seafarer supplying nations the Philippines, India, China, and the United Kingdom to identify root causes of this workforce crisis in the context of technological change and automation. Utilizing a mixedmethods design, the study integrates statistical workforce data from BIMCO, ICS, and national maritime bodies with survey responses from 428 cadets and junior officers enrolled in accredited MET institutions. The findings reveal that although India and the Philippines maintain high training outputs, both nations suffer from significant dropout rates and weak cadetship to employment pathways. Meanwhile, the UK and China show greater automation training readiness but are constrained by declining enrollment and retention. Only 24% of respondents received any structured training related to smart or autonomous ships, while 62% reported mental health concerns as a factor in their decision to continue or exit the maritime profession. This research contributes original cross country indicators of MET system performance, digital readiness, and cadet perception metrics, and proposes strategic reforms aligned with IMO’s MASS and STCW initiatives.