EMSA has published the second edition of the European Maritime Safety Report (Emsafe) report, which focuses on current issues impacting shipping and safety in the European Union (EU).
As explained, between 2019 and 2023, the maritime sector operated in a highly disruptive global context shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, and the cascading effects of international conflicts, including the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East, all of which significantly affected maritime traffic flows.
During this period, analyzed in the second edition of Emsafe, the sector worked to maintain safety standards while adapting to an evolving regulatory environment and confronting emerging challenges such as an ageing fleet, digitalization, decarbonization, and the need to attract and retain a skilled workforce.
Since the first report in 2022, several high-profile accidents, notably the fires aboard the MV Fremantle Highway and the Felicity Ace, have further underscored new and evolving safety risks that the industry must address.
Port traffic and ship calls
There were more than 880.000 ship calls to EU ports in 2023, representing an increase of almost 20% compared with pre-pandemic levels. More than 50 % corresponded to domestic traffic, with ro-pax and passenger ships the most common ship types calling at EU ports. Approximately three quarters of all ships calling at EU ports are flagged to a Member State, with fewer than 25% registered to a non-EU country.
Shipbuilding in the EU
Between 2019 and 2023, EU shipyards accounted for 7.6% of global newbuild activity, by number of ships built. Compared to 2016–2020, the global share of ships built in the EU over an equivalent five-year period decreased by 1.2%.
Despite this decline, the EU continues to lead in constructing passenger ships, fishing vessels and offshore supply vessels.
The Netherlands, Poland and Spain are the Member States that produce the largest number of vessels in these categories. Meanwhile, Finland, Italy and Germany focus on building larger vessels, such as cruise ships.
Marine equipment industry
In contrast, the European marine equipment industry is a world leader, with a market share of 35% for a wide range of products. Data from the MED Portal, the reference database for products certified in the EU under the Marine Equipment Directive (Directive 2014/90/EU), shows that 45 % of the marine equipment installed on EU Member State-flagged ships is manufactured by companies based in the EU.
Certificates of competency in the EU
By the end of 2023, 172 308 masters and officers held valid certificates of competency (CoCs) issued by an EU Member State. This was a 20 % reduction from 2019, but a 7 % reduction when the effect of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU is taken into account.
At the same time, another 125.519 masters and officers held original CoCs issued by non-EU countries – an increase of 4 % since 2019 – with endorsements issued by EU Member States attesting to their recognition.
Overall, by the end of 2023, 297 827 masters and officers held the requisite certificates and endorsements to serve on board EU Member State-flagged vessels, a 12% decrease compared to 2019.
Age profile and gender balance
In the same year, the average age of seafarers eligible to work on EU Member State-flagged ships was 44 for those certified in EU Member States and 41 for those certified in non-EU countries. In addition, the share of women in the seafaring profession continues to be very low, at 2.78 % of all available seafarers certified in the EU in 2023, and just 0.8 % of those certified in non-EU countries.
Seafarers: working conditions and training
The working conditions of seafarers remain challenging. Deficiencies in their conditions of employment, including work and rest hours, wages and manning levels under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), are found in one out of every 13 Paris MoU PSC inspections, on average.
Between 2019 and 2023, one out of every four PSC inspections found deficiencies under the MLC category of healthcare, safety protection and accident prevention of seafarers in Paris MoU reports. More than 60 % of the MLC-related deficiencies discovered in the reference period were found on board bulk carriers or general cargo ships, and around 13 % on board tankers.
Training and certification recognition
The training of seafarers is an important part of the safety process. The Commission, assisted by EMSA (which carries out inspections), assesses the educational systems implemented in non-EU countries on behalf of EU Member States and in line with the International Convention on Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers.
To this end, 51 non-EU countries have had the CoCs they issue recognized by EU Member States, allowing their seafarers to work on board EU Member State-flagged ships.
