Costs are rising in the crewing sector and crew shortages are becoming evident as Covid-19 travel restrictions and vaccination delays impact the availability of trained seafarers, warns Danica Crewing Services.
Noting recent changes in the availability of crew members, Henrik Jensen, Danica managing director, said that the Eastern European crewing market was under extreme pressure as companies turned to places like Ukraine and Russia to replace officers and seafarers unable to travel from places like India and the Philippines.
“And as we head into the summer holiday period, regarded as a ‘low season’ in terms of crew availability due to family commitments, crew numbers are being adversely impacted by the availability of Covid-19 vaccines and the time needed to allow immunity to develop. Some seafarers are also waiting until they have had their second vaccination before returning to sea,” he said.
“The unfortunate situation in India and the travel restrictions in the Philippines have caused many shipping companies to turn to Eastern Europe for crews. This has put the seafarer employment market in Eastern Europe under unprecedented pressure, with a high surplus of vacancies.
“Not unexpectedly – and as in freight markets – when there is a shortage the cost goes up, and we now see shipping companies offering salaries 10-20% higher than the average market levels, or providing a high joining bonus.”
