RMT Urges Reforms to Address Decline of UK Seafarers Amid Rising Job Demand

The Maritime union RMT has criticized the decline in the number of UK resident seafarers, despite a significant increase in the number of seafarer jobs to over 160,800. The number of UK resident Ratings working in the UK shipping industry dropped by three percent to below 9,900, while the total number of Ratings increased by 7.2 percent to 134,250. This means that only seven percent of UK resident Ratings hold these jobs. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch highlighted that most of the increased demand in 2024 was met by Ratings recruited from non-EEA countries.

Lynch expressed concern over the working conditions of non-EEA seafarers, who often work on agency contracts that pay below the National Minimum Wage. He emphasized the need for better regulation of rosters and shore leave access, as required by the Maritime Labour Convention. Despite an increase in Ratings apprenticeships in 2024, which reached just 60, Lynch stressed that more action is needed to address the exploitation of foreign seafarers at the expense of UK coastal communities and maritime security.

In response to these challenges, Lynch called for Tonnage Tax reforms to establish a mandatory link between training and employment for UK resident Ratings. He proposed the implementation of binding targets for training and employment to support UK Ratings in the maritime industry. The union urges the government to prioritize these reforms in the upcoming Spending Review to address the ongoing trend of exploiting foreign seafarers and protect the interests of UK residents in the maritime sector.

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