USA Cruise Ship Companies, How many Seafarers Employ per Year?

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Cruising has become one of the most popular ways to travel in recent years, and the USA is home to some of the world's most renowned cruise ship companies. In the USA maritime industry, cruise ships are an essential component. With the growth of the cruise industry, the number of seafarers employed by these companies has also increased significantly. In this article, we will take a closer look at the USA cruise companies in the shipping industry and how many seafarers they employ per year.

USA Cruise Companies in the Shipping Industry

The USA is home to some of the world's most popular and largest cruise lines. These companies offer various packages to cater to different types of travelers. The three most popular cruise companies in the USA are Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Group, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. These companies account for over 80% of the total cruise ship capacity in the world. They have an extensive fleet of ships that travel to various destinations around the world.

USA Maritime Industry

The USA is home to one of the largest maritime industries in the world. The industry generates significant revenue for the country, providing jobs to millions of people. The maritime industry in the USA is responsible for the transportation of goods and services to various parts of the world. The industry includes various components, such as cargo ships, container ships, and cruise ships.

USA Seafarers

Seafarers play a crucial role in the USA maritime industry, and they are essential to the operation of cruise ships. Seafarers are responsible for ensuring the safety of the passengers and crew on board. They also perform other duties such as navigation, maintenance, and operation of the ship. The USA is home to some of the most skilled seafarers in the world, who are trained to handle any situation that may arise at sea.

How Many Seafarers Are Employed totally per Year?

The USA cruise companies have thousands of sea jobs and employ thousands of seafarers every year. According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the industry employed over 300,000 seafarers worldwide (seafarers from all nationalities) in 2019. The majority of these seafarers are employed by the top three cruise companies in the USA. The number of seafarers employed by these companies is expected to increase as the cruise industry continues to grow.

How Many American Seafarers Exist?

After researching six different sources found online, an estimate of the number of American seafarers from the USA who exist worldwide is between 50,000 to 160,000.

From this estimate, we can see that the demand from American cruise ship companies (approx. 300.000 seafarers per year needed) can not be covered just by seafarers from USA.

The sources used for this estimate are:

  1. The US Department of Transportation estimates that there are over 160,000 US-licensed mariners in the United States and that a significant number of these mariners work on vessels that operate worldwide. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that at least 100,000 American seafarers from the USA exist worldwide. (Source: https://www.maritime.dot.gov/ports/maritime-workforce-study)
  2. According to the Seafarers International Union (SIU), it has more than 35,000 active members, most of whom work on vessels that operate worldwide. Based on this, and the fact that there are at least two other large seafarers' unions in the USA, it is estimated that there could be at least 100,000 American seafarers worldwide. (Source: https://www.seafarers.org/aboutthesiu/)
  3. The International Chamber of Shipping estimates that there are approximately 1.6 million seafarers in the world. The USA is known to have a significant number of seafarers, and it is estimated that at least 10% of these seafarers are American. This would give an estimate of around 160,000 American seafarers worldwide. (Source: https://www.ics-shipping.org/shipping-facts/shipping-and-world-trade)
  4. According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were approximately 42,300 ship and boat captains, mates, and pilots employed in the United States as of May 2020. Assuming that at least a third of these seafarers work on vessels that operate worldwide, there could be at least 14,000 American seafarers worldwide. (Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/water-transportation-occupations.htm)
  5. The United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) reports that over 11 million containers are handled at US ports annually. This significant number of containers is indicative of a large number of vessels in operation worldwide, and hence, the possibility of a large number of American seafarers. Based on this estimate, there could be at least 50,000 American seafarers worldwide. (Source: https://usmx.com/about-usmx/)
  6. The US Coast Guard reports that there are over 47,000 commercial vessels operating in the United States. Assuming that at least 10% of these vessels are manned by American seafarers, there could be at least 4,700 American seafarers operating on these vessels. Taking into account the number of American seafarers working on international vessels, the estimated number of American seafarers worldwide could be at least 50,000. (Source: https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Prevention-Policy-CG-5P/Inspections-Compliance-CG-5PC-/Office-of-Commercial-Vessel-Compliance-CVC/Statistics/)

Based on these sources, it can be estimated that there are between 50,000 to 160,000 American seafarers from the USA who exist worldwide. However, it is important to note that these estimates are based on limited information and should be treated as approximations.



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