Occupational stressors, risks and health in the seafaring population

According to the latest assessment of the global supply and demand for seafarers (BIMCO/ISF, 2010), worldwide supply of seafarers is estimated to be 1 371 000, i.e., 624 000 officers and 747 000 ratings or crew members. BIMCO/ISF (2010) show continued positive trends in both demand and supply of seafarers despite the global economic downturn, but it also reflects significant increases in seafarers from some countries, particularly China, India and the Philippines, as well as in several European countries. The current main suppliers of officers and ratings are OECD countries (29.4% of officers and 19.2% of ratings in global supply) and Far East (19.2% of officers and 36.7% of ratings in global supply). Eastern Europe, with 20.3% of officers and 14.6% of ratings, becomes also labour supplying region of increasing importance. According to BICMO/ISF (2010) the supply of officers worldwide is lower than the demand by 2%. Analysis of international seafarers’ market shows that over recent decades there has been a decline in number of seafarers from developed countries, and this decline along with a desire to reduce labour unit costs, created increasing demands for seafarers from developing countries, Occupational stressors, risks and health in the seafaring population