Abstract
Maritime shipping is fundamental to the international trading sector, offering high environmental and energy efficiency as well as cost-effectiveness. Malaysia has also played a significant role, being strategically situated along the Straits of Malacca. Significant obstacles persist, including low regulatory compliance as well as limited qualified seafarers. This study addresses the critical research problem of a declining supply of local seafarers for Malaysian-flagged vessels, which threatens national maritime resilience and workforce sustainability. While general discussions have acknowledged labour shortages in the maritime sector, limited empirical research has specifically examined post-2018 trends in Malaysian ship registration and seafarer deployment. To bridge this knowledge gap, this study assesses current trends in Malaysian ship registration and seafarer employment using data from the JALIN and Seafarers’ Documentation (SDPx) databases from 2019 to 2023. A 21 % increase in registered ships was observed, along with significant growth in seafarer ratings by 115 % and officer positions by 4 %. Minimum safe manning data reveals a 27 % shortage of local seafarers for Malaysian vessels, which represents an increase from 26 % in 2018, while the proportion of local seafarers choosing to work on foreign-flagged ships has sharply risen to 40 % compared to just 17 % in 2018. These findings underscore the practical need for strengthened policy frameworks, targeted training reforms and more responsive workforce development strategies. Addressing these trends is vital not only for national maritime competitiveness but also for reducing reliance on foreign labor, enhancing environmental outcomes and ensuring long-term industry sustainability.
