India has officially overtaken China to become the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers, according to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report, 2026. This marks a significant rise from its previous position, driven by government reforms and increased demand in the global shipping industry.

• India now accounts for 12.16% of the global seafarer workforce, with 311,936 maritime professionals.
• The BIMCO-ICS report highlights a global seafarer shortage, with demand nearing 2.55 million against a workforce of 2.57 million.
• This achievement is attributed to reforms by the Indian government aimed at improving maritime education, training, and certification processes, strengthening compliance with international standards like STCW.