London, UK: INTERTANKO and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have recently organised a three-day workshop for young seafarers to express their views on their careers and lives at sea, and on what attracts young people to the shipping industry and retains them there.

The Young Seafarers’ Focus Group consisted of 20 volunteers of seven different nationalities drawn from the membership of both associations. All were young, serving seafarers of all ranks and from all ship types. Their initial findings were discussed directly with heads of industry and then presented to the Secretary General of the IMO.

The recruitment and retention of qualified seafarers have been ongoing matters of concern to those in the shipping industry, and this workshop was designed to provide INTERTANKO, the ITF and the IMO with a better understanding of what needed to be addressed in order to attract and retain young people at sea.

“This puts us all in a better position to understand what drives and motivates the young people, who are our industry’s future, to respond their concerns and motivations, and to provide an attractive environment for those who have entered, or are about to enter, seafaring as a career,” said a joint statement issued by INTERTANKO and the ITF.