Maritime union RMT has urged the UK government to take action after new figures revealed a fall in deck and engine room seafarers.
Statistics published this morning from the department for transport showed a net increase of 1% in overall UK ratings.
But RMT noted that this masked falls in deck and engine room crew of 8% and 15% respectively.
Mick Cash, RMT’s general secretary, said: “Today’s figures demonstrate the deepening crisis facing UK seafarers, a direct result of government and industry’s failure to offer enough job and trading opportunities to young people, particularly in seafaring towns and cities up and down the UK.”
Late last year, the UK Chamber of Shipping called the UK government to increase funds directed to seafarer training.
Cash added: “We now need concrete actions and targets, in addition to the maritime growth study recommendations to increase the training and employment of UK seafarers.
“These actions must include a timetable for action to end pay discrimination in the UK shipping industry which is the root cause of this decline.”
RMT will be protesting this week against the hourly wage of £1.64 per hour, which is offered on the roll-on roll-off freight link between Rosyth and Zeebrugge.
According to the UK government stats, there are 87,000 rating jobs in the UK shipping industry but UK merchant seafarers account for just over 10% of that figure.
