Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to support (a) training and (b) employment for UK-resident seafarers.

DfT remains committed to future-proofing the training and employment of UK-based seafarers.

Our work includes the ongoing delivery of the Cadet Review recommendations, a Ratings Review which considered the barriers, opportunities, and growth areas for UK ratings, support for the Maritime Training (SMarT) programme and most notably the Seafarer Protections Nine-Point Plan to boost and reform seafarer protections and welfare. As part of the plan, we have delivered the Seafarers’ Wages Act to protects those working on ships operating a regular international service to/from the UK from being paid less than the National Minimum Wage while in UK territorial waters.

We launched the Seafarers’ Charter on 24 July 2023 which sets higher standards for working conditions than international minimum.