The Future Seafarer

Introduction

The future of the seafarer is a question that is frequently asked, especially with the recent boom in technology throughout the industry. Autonomous shipping is developing rapidly, which poses the question of whether jobs are safe when working at sea. With more than 80% of seafarers expressing concerns about the future of their jobs, this report shall examine the future of the seafarer’s role with the rapid increase of technology and try to understand the relationship between seafarers and technology. If autonomous ships are the future of the sea, what will this mean for the seafarer? Are the current training standards up to date, and is there enough being done to ensure that officers are ready for the change from ships based control to operating vessels in remote locations? Furthermore, with autonomous shipping only considered to encounter a small percentage of the merchant fleet by 2050, how is current technology being implemented to ensure that it works hand in hand with seafarers to help better their daily responsibilities, and improve the standards of their current work?

How are emerging technologies affecting the work life of seafarers?

Digitalisation has become a key priority for the advancement of the maritime industry along with decarbonisation and sustainability. Today, the sector is working towards producing more advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, which has brought tremendous benefits to the industry. While the transition to a more tech-driven maritime future is on the horizon, it is proving to be a key differentiator for leading fleets.