Cost growth
returned to seafaring in 2018 and is projected to accelerate moderately on
recovering vessel earnings and continued shortfall in officer numbers,
according to the latest Manning Annual Review and Forecast report
published by global shipping consultancy Drewry.
Depressed cargo markets forced shipowners “to make all attempts to
stem rising financial losses” says Drewry’s
director of research products, Mr Martin Dixon
Drewry
estimates that aggregate manning costs rose by around 1 per cent in 2018 with
both ratings and officer pay rising by the same margin. This contrasted with
2017 when average costs rose by just 0.2 per cent, dragged down by a 0.75 per
cent decline in overall officer wage rates.
The return
to wage growth has occurred despite the shortfall in officer numbers receding
to more manageable levels. But the shortage is expected to continue for the
foreseeable future despite projected stagnation in the vessel fleet, as longer
leave and shorter tours of duty increase man-berth ratio requirements.
Meanwhile, officer supply growth is projected to slow further. By contrast,
ratings supply has always been in surplus and is anticipated to remain so.
"The
growth in supply of seafarers has been slowing and is projected to slacken
further over the next five years," added Mr Dixon. "This slowdown in
the available maritime workforce has important implications for shipowners,
particularly in terms of recruitment, retention and wage costs."
Looking
ahead Drewry expects the pressure on vessel operators’ costs to continue to
dampen wage inflation. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is
yet to agree new wage scales with employer organisations, to take effect from
January 2019. But Drewry does not expect the award to lead to a notable rise in
average salaries as many seafarers are already paid above these minimum levels.
Drewry
expects average manning costs to rise moderately over the next five years, with
some acceleration anticipated towards the end of the forecast period as back-up
ratios rise to cope with longer leave periods. Stronger vessel earnings and
competition for scarce officers certified to crew specialist ships will also be
drivers of slightly higher wage growth in this period, it said in a release.
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