The Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA) is stepping up efforts in promoting maritime training to meet global demands as plans are at an advanced stage for the country to start issuing the mandatory Seafarers Identity Document (SID).
SID facilitates the entry of seafarers on board a vessel to countries where the vessels call for shore leave, transit, transfer or repatriation.
The International Chamber of Shipping Seafarer Workforce Report 2021 recommends that the industry must significantly increase training and recruitment levels if it is to avoid a serious shortage in the total supply of officers by 2026.
The report shows that there will be a need for an additional 89,510 officers by 2026 to operate the world merchant fleet.