A crew shortage canceled all the Washington State Ferries service in the San Juan Islands over the weekend. Staff shortages across the industry have only gotten worse, even as the call for new workers has increased. So, where is the next generation of mariners?
The graying of the maritime industry has been like a wave on the horizon, slowly getting larger as it races toward the shore.
Twenty percent of the entire maritime industry is within five years of retirement, according to Dale Bateman, the associate dean of the Seattle Maritime Academy.
Compounding the problem is the lack of diversity in the industry: It’s hard to attract people when
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