Canada is a maritime nation. With over 243,000 kilometers of coastline—the longest in the world—along with thousands of lakes and rivers, the marine sector is essential to our economy, communities, and supply chains. In 2023, Canada’s marine economy contributed more than $50 billion in GDP, including $9 billion from marine transportation and support services.

Domestic commercial and public-sector vessels—cargo ships, ferries, tugs and barges, tour boats, Canadian Coast Guard ships, and science and enforcement vessels—carry goods and people, connect communities, and support industries including manufacturing, agriculture, mining, energy, and tourism. Behind these operations is a specialized and highly trained marine workforce.

The Canadian Marine Careers Foundation (CMCF) commissioned the Canadian Seafarers Pathway Study in 2024 to better understand the workforce challenges facing this vital sector with rising retirements over the past few years. The study was funded by a consortium of marine stakeholders including the CMCF, the Chamber of Marine Commerce, the Council of Marine Carriers, the Laurentian Pilotage Authority, the Master Mariners of Canada, British Columbia Coast Pilots, BC Ferries, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, and members of the Western Marine Community Coalition. Grant funding was also provided by the Lloyds Register Foundation.

The goal of the study is to provide data-driven insights and actionable recommendations to help guide the CMCF and the sector in developing and implementing strategies to ensure the marine sector’s future viability. The study also identifies urgent training capacity issues and barriers that make it difficult for students and workers to enter or stay in the industry.

The Canadian Marine Careers Foundation (CMCF) is a national non-profit working with over 50 industry, labour, education, and government partners to build a diverse and future ready workforce for Canada’s marine sector. Through its Imagine Marine campaign, the CMCF promotes career opportunities both onboard vessels and at shore by engaging youth, jobseekers, and equity-deserving groups. The CMCF develops unified and sector coordinated approaches to workforce development, providing labour market data, tools, resources and programs to strengthen recruitment, retention, and training efforts.

The CMCF engaged R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd. to conduct a comprehensive labour market study, using:

• Surveys of marine employers, students, and recent graduates
• Interviews with public and private sector industry stakeholders and training institutions
• Literature review and analysis of Statistics Canada and other labour data
• National and regional analysis (Central, Atlantic, Pacific, and Territories)

The study examines the size and profile of the current marine workforce, hiring forecasts, training capacity and gaps, recruitment and retention issues, and the outlook for key marine occupations.

The study focuses on Canada’s domestic seafaring workforce, including:

• Marine occupations onboard Canadian commercial and public-sector vessels
• Onshore roles that support vessel operations

Included sectors:

• Water transportation of passengers and goods
• Scenic and sightseeing water transportation
• Specialized services to water transportation
• The Canadian Coast Guard

Excluded sectors:

• The Royal Canadian Navy
• Foreign-flag cruise ship operations
• Port and harbour operations
• The fishing sector

• The workforce shortage is already severe. The sector is short more than 3,600 workers, with a vacancy rate three times higher than the national transportation average.
• The five-year hiring outlook is urgent. The sector will require 8,300 new workers— more than 30% of its current workforce—to meet industry demand and replace retirees by 2029.
• Training supply is far below demand. Canada’s marine training system is currently on track to supply only 40% of needed graduates for key roles like navigation officers, engineers, and deck/engine crew.
• Some training institutions have unfilled seats due to low enrolment, particularly in marine engineering and engine ratings programs, even though demand for graduates is high.

• Key barriers include:

o Low public awareness of marine careers
o High living costs in particular regions such as BC
o Insufficient funding support for students and marine training programs
o Limited access to training at sea (required for certifications)
o Shortages of qualified instructors

• Workforce Demographics: The workforce is aging and mostly male. Although progress is being made in increasing female and indigenous participation, these groups and visible minorities are still underrepresented.

• Retention: Not all new graduates and existing mariners want to remain in seagoing positions for their entire careers and prefer to move ashore for various reasons. (isolation, rough weather, strenuous tasks, internet connectivity, living conditions and time away from home). There can also be misalignment between young workers’ expectations and reality, including the long timeline for career progression to meet required education and at-sea experience.

The study recommends a coordinated national approach, with collaboration between government, industry, unions, and education providers to:

• Increase awareness of marine careers among youth, jobseekers and underrepresented communities
• Invest in education—including financial aid, hybrid and remote learning, and onboard training & upskilling
• Address equity, diversity, and inclusion across training and workplaces
• Modernize training content and delivery and better align it with industry needs and new technology
• Strengthen retention strategies, such as improved compensation linked to years at sea, career development, and better onboard working conditions

There are two pathways to become a seafarer eligible to work onboard Canadian vessels: through direct work experience or through post-secondary marine cadet training programs.

Direct work experience: Canadian citizens or permanent residents who meet minimum Transport Canada requirements, pass a marine medical, and take safety training can start working directly in unlicensed positions (also referred to as ratings positions). Ratings seafarers are crew members who have not passed through officer training but fill a variety of skilled positions in all departments on a vessel (such as deckhands, engine room crews and cooks). The work can involve a wide range of tasks essential to the safe operation and maintenance of vessels. Additional training is often provided by the employer.

Ratings seafarers can also access shorter courses or programs provided through a variety of marine training providers. These seafarers can also advance their career over time to become a marine officer by accumulating the required sea time, by studying independently or through courses, and by passing Transport Canada examinations. Taking this pathway to become a marine officer requires self motivation and patience, as it can take much longer than a formalized marine cadet training program.

Post-secondary marine cadet training programs: Canadian citizens or permanent residents that meet admission requirements can attend a post-secondary three- or four-year marine cadet training program at one of six training institutions approved by Transport Canada. These programs combine academics with simulation training and co-op work placements onboard a vessel to prepare students for a career as a navigation or engineering officer. The student must also acquire the required sea time and pass Transport Canada examinations to receive a Certificate of Competency (often referred to as a license).

Navigation officers help sail the vessel, supervise deck crew and cargo/passenger handling, and ensure the safety of the crew, the vessel and the waters in which they operate. Navigation officers can progress with additional training, experience and examinations over time to the role of captain or master mariner. Engineering officers maintain the engines, mechanical and environmental systems of the ship. These officers can progress with additional experience and examinations through the ranks to become a chief engineer.

Learn more on imagine-marine.ca.