The data on the rising number of seafarers who are “active and employed” on world merchant shipping fleet will help India prove a point against global agencies that have suggested a waning popularity of Indian seafarers among fleet owners and ship managers.
India, according to these agencies, has lost some of its sheen as a big supplier of quality manpower to the global shipping industry, with China and the Philippines surging ahead — the former holding the top slot in the supply of officers and the latter for ratings or general-purpose staff.
Fifth largest supplier
India is the fifth largest supplier of officers after China, the Philippines, Russia and Ukraine, according to the ‘Manpower Report 2015’, published by