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China economy
Opinion
Emanuele Grimaldi
Emanuele Grimaldi

Outside In | China can help nurture a new generation of seafarers to power cleaner, safer maritime industry

  • China and its robust shipping industry is at the forefront of a transition to using more sustainable fuel sources and ensuring better treatment for seafarers
  • Its commitment to this mission will remain pivotal, paving the way for a sustainable, prosperous Chinese economy and global maritime industry

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Migrant workers sort fish on a Thai fishing boat. Governments, owners and workers have collaborated since 2020 to make several amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention and improve conditions for seafarers. Photo: AFP
Emanuele Grimaldi
Seafarers are essential workers, crucial to the sustainable growth of China’s economy. This diverse, nearly 2 million strong global workforce moves everything we use in our day-to-day lives – from food and fuel to medicine and consumer goods.

This reality resonates in China, which is the world’s second-biggest economy and largest exporter and also contributes significantly to the global seafaring workforce. China ranks among the top five providers of seafarers, and shipowners and operators are likely to recruit crews from China in the future.

Amid the ongoing global energy transition from fossil fuels to zero-carbon sources, the role of seafarers has become even more crucial. China, with its robust shipping industry, is at the forefront of this transition.

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By 2050, shipping will transport most of the globally traded “green” fuels, with seafarers responsible for their safe and efficient transport. With more than 30 per cent of skilled seafarers from China aged between 21 and 30, they represent one of the industry’s most important generations. They will learn and apply crucial skills to ensure the shipping industry plays its part in the global energy transition.

A resilient seafaring workforce is vital to China’s broader growth. The country’s maritime sector, especially after recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, is poised for progress and innovation. Companies are embracing a greener future, which is reflected in Chinese orders of new car carriers powered by zero-carbon fuels.
Port employees in protective suits watch a loaded container ship at Qingdao port in Shandong on April 1, 2020. China’s maritime industry, like the rest of the country’s economy, is still recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: DPA
Port employees in protective suits watch a loaded container ship at Qingdao port in Shandong on April 1, 2020. China’s maritime industry, like the rest of the country’s economy, is still recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: DPA

We must not overlook the challenges facing the industry. The seafarers of 2050 will differ from today’s workforce, necessitating urgent adaptation within the maritime economy. These transformative changes require an agile, well-trained workforce to support them. The global social contract governing how governments, industry and wider society view and treat seafarers must continue to adapt to changing dynamics along the entire value chain.

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