Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) executives say the key challenge facing the shipping industry is not just attracting young people but providing high-quality training amid fast advancing vessel technology and a stricter regulatory environment.

“Although up until this point we have not seen vessel operations stopped due to a lack of officers, we have seen a diminishing quality of officer available in the world seafarer pool to man our ships,” BSM fleet personnel director Giles Heimann said in the latest issue of the company's magazine, Highlights.