World’s largest shipmanager debuts initiative to tackle ageing officer demographics

With the global maritime industry grappling with a tightening talent pool, ageing officer demographics, and rising demands for digital and adaptive skills, Anglo-Eastern, the world’s largest shipmanager, has unveiled Mission 30, a landmark initiative aimed at empowering young talent within its seafaring ranks. The program sets an ambitious target: to increase the percentage of management-level officers under 30 years old from 1% today to 30% by 2030.

According to the 2021 Seafarer Workforce Report by BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping, the average age of management-level officers has steadily increased, with under-30s now forming a shrinking minority at sea.

“We’ve observed a shift in our workforce at sea – while most of our chief officers and second engineers were once under 30, today only about 1% of our management-level officers fall into this age group,” said Vinay Singh, group managing director of marine HR at Anglo-Eastern. “This trend poses a potential challenge as we gear up for the future—one that demands adaptability, digital fluency, and agility for innovations such as dual-fuel systems, AI integration, and smart ship technologies.”

To reverse this trend and fast-track talent development, Mission 30 introduces a suite of support measures tailored to young officers and cadets including personalised career ladder maps, and targeted training and assessment.

“Our goal is to create structured, transparent pathways to leadership at sea,” said Singh. “We invite all young seafarers to seize this opportunity—to grow faster, lead sooner, and become the next generation of maritime professionals. With the right support and ambition, we can help them reach new heights in their sea career before 30. We look forward to helping them get there.”