Employment of seafarers in the EU context: Challenges and opportunities

The EU is the leading maritime power with approximately 3 million people in total working in its thriving maritime industries. It is the aim of the present paper to examine the status of the EU-registered and -controlled fleet, provide an overview of contemporary forces in the shipping business, which affect employment of EU seafarers, and discuss principal EU initiatives in support of the competitiveness of the EU shipping and employment opportunities for EU nationals in it. Among the issues under consideration will be the role and effect of third party flags, cost considerations, the maritime cluster effect, and regulatory burdens.