Anglo-Eastern Univan Group , a global leader in independent ship management services, is delighted to be launching “Mission 30”, a bold initiative to increase the proportion of its management-level officers (i.e. Captain, Chief Officer, Chief Engineer, and Second Engineer) under the age of 30 from 1% to 30% by 2030

In light of the evolving crewing landscape, a tightening talent pool, and the increasing demands for diverse skillsets among seafarers, Anglo-Eastern is looking ahead to cultivate a young, agile workforce for management-level positions at sea.

To ensure its seafarers receive comprehensive support and guidance on their career development, Anglo-Eastern set up a Career Care team comprised of some of its most experienced Marine HR leaders to drive its Career Care Programme launched in 2024. This strategic initiative equips seafarers with structured career pathways, personalised guidance, and future-proof skillsets to excel in a rapidly evolving maritime industry.

As part of Anglo-Eastern’s ongoing commitment to seafarer wellbeing and driven by its WE Care initiative, the Career Care Programme monitors and provides guidance to its seafarers about their career progression with specific focus on promotions to the next professional level, transition from ratings to officers, reskilling to a different type of vessel and transition to shore jobs.

Compiled every five years, the Seafarer Workforce Report released in 2021 by BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping pointed out the average age of officers serving at management and operational levels has increased since 2015. Moreover, the percentage of management-level officers under the age of 30 has been declining further in recent years.

“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,” Vinay Singh, Group Managing Director of Marine HR at Anglo-Eastern, explained as the motivation behind Mission 30. “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.”

Mission 30 consists of the following tools and measures to accelerate the professional growth of Anglo-Eastern’s seafarers.

• Personalised Career Ladder Map: Every officer receives a tailored and visualised roadmap highlighting the gap between their current position and their ideal career trajectory.
• Targeted Training and Assessments: Focused programmes are in place to prepare officers for timely promotions.
• Career Care Team Mentorship: Expert guidance is provided to seafarers on Certificate of Competency (COC) examinations, ship-type transitions, and long-term career planning. Newly promoted officers will be paired with well-respected peers as mentees and mentors.

To this date, more than 5,000 operational-level officers and cadets at Anglo-Eastern have been contacted to enrol in Mission 30.

Vinay Singh reaffirmed the company’s ongoing commitment to shaping a future-ready workforce and a better maritime future, “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.”