Maritime union RMT has urged the UK government to take action after new figures revealed a fall in deck and engine room seafarers.
Statistics published this morning from the department for transport showed a net increase of 1% in overall UK ratings.
But RMT noted that this masked falls in deck and engine room crew of 8% and 15% respectively.
Mick Cash, RMT’s general secretary, said: “Today’s figures demonstrate the deepening crisis facing UK seafarers, a direct result of government and industry’s failure to offer enough job and trading opportunities to young people, particularly in seafaring towns and cities up and down the UK.”
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