Vessel facts & stats

Question 1

As of December 2018, about what share of the world's merchant mariners were born in the Philippines?

Accepted Answer

about 1 in 4. Roughly a quarter of the world's seafarers were Filipino as of late 2018, reflecting the country's outsized role in crewing.

Question 2

About what share of the world's non-bulk cargo is transported by container ships today?

Accepted Answer

about 90%. Roughly 90% of the world's non-bulk goods now move in shipping containers.

Question 3

In what year did the Panama Canal - a vital route for vessels - officially open?

Accepted Answer

1914. The Panama Canal formally opened on August 15, 1914, cutting a route that once required sailing around South America.

Question 4

In its first year of 1914, about how many ships passed through the Panama Canal, compared to over 13,000 a year by the 2010s?

Accepted Answer

about 1,000 ships. Only about 1,000 vessels transited the canal in its opening year, versus well over 13,000 annually decades later.

Question 5

As of 2021, what share of the global maritime workforce were women?

Accepted Answer

1.28%. Women made up only about 1.28% of the maritime workforce in 2021, one of the most male-dominated industries globally.

The basics