🌍 Unlocking Untapped Potential: Why African Crew Must Be on the Global Agenda

The global shipping industry is facing a workforce reckoning. According to the recently published Drewry Manning Annual Review and Forecast 2025/26, the officer shortage currently sits at an estimated 8.5 percent — with projections rising to 10 percent by 2030. This is not a marginal shortfall. It is a signal that the industry must urgently rethink how and where it sources crew.

At EQ8 Crew, we have seen this challenge not as a crisis, but as a call to action.The Opportunity Africa Offers

EQ8 Crew was launched with one bold ambition: to place African crew on the global maritime map.

Not only does South Africa boast world class maritime academies and internationally recognised training standards, but the continent is home to a wealth of capable, qualified seafarers whose careers have been stalled by limited access to global placements. Combine this with high unemployment rates in the region, and it becomes clear that the opportunity for partnership is both socially transformative and commercially strategic.

EQ8 Crew was launched with one bold ambition: to place African crew on the global maritime map.

This is about strategic crew planning, sustainable talent pipelines, and global diversification in an industry that cannot afford to remain tethered to traditional sourcing models.

The Case for Diversifying Crew Supply Chains

The industry must now take a long term view of talent acquisition. A forward thinking crewing strategy must:

  • Broaden the sourcing landscape beyond oversaturated markets

  • Build future ready officer pools with long term progression in mind

  • Ensure cultural, geographical, and generational balance on board

At EQ8 Crew we believe in crewing models that are future focused, technology enabled, and deeply human. By bridging African talent with global opportunity, we are not just solving today's shortages. We are helping build tomorrow's maritime workforce.

Africa is ready. The talent exists. What has been missing is access. That is exactly what EQ8 Crew was built to promote.

Partnering for Progress

Our co-founders, shareholders, and international partners share a deep belief that the African continent holds one of the keys to sustainable crewing solutions.

We do not just provide seafarers. We collaborate with ship owners and managers to:

  • Build strategic crew pools aligned with fleet growth

  • Engage with training institutions to support cadet development

  • Invest in local representation to ensure consistency and compliance

  • Champion diversity in a global workforce

We believe in crewing models that are future focused, technology enabled, and deeply human. By bridging African talent with global opportunity, we are not just solving today's shortages. We are helping build tomorrow's maritime workforce.

Let’s partner to make this happen

Get in touch to explore how EQ8 Crew can support your long term crew planning strategy.

Tracey Lee Shearer