Seafarer Statistics: Background Quality Report

Question 1

听Section 1: Quality assessment听

Accepted Answer

In this section, the quality of the statistics is considered in relation to the different dimensions of quality as听stated听in the European Statistical System (ESS) quality听framework.听

Question 2

听1.听Relevance听

Accepted Answer

Relevance is the degree to which a statistical product meets user needs in terms of content and coverage.听

The statistical outputs presented within seafarer statistics include:听

补听蝉迟补迟颈蝉迟颈肠补濒听谤别濒别补蝉别听containing听key findings, trends over time and signposts to further information听
Open Document Spreadsheet (ODS)听dat补听tables听containing听information on the number of seafarers by department, seafarer type, age,听gender听and nationality听
a technical note which provides background on the statistics, information about the different data sources,听methodology听information, and user feedback 鈥� see our听驳耻颈诲补苍肠别听辫补驳别听听

Known users and uses of the statistics:听

Within the DfT the statistics are used:听

for听ministerial briefing and to answer public enquiries听
as听background to policy development, for example understanding diversity in the maritime sector听
for听monitoring trends in seafarer employment and activity听
by听analysts for ad-hoc work for example assessing changes in demographics of seafarers听

Outside of DfT, known users include:听

maritime听organisations and employment unions to听monitor听seafarer activity听
other听more general users who want to gain an overview of seafaring in the UK听

How well the statistics meet user needs:听

In 2016, a seafarer user engagement exercise was published, seeking views on the use of the statistics and potential improvement. Although only听3听responses were received, together with 补听subsequent听review of the statistics, the following areas were identified as being of interest:听

听听听 User requests听听听听听听听听听听	听听听听 DfT response听听听听听听
Improvements to the听methodology听used to compile estimates of seafarers active at se补听听 (although no specifics on how this should be听done)听听	We collected data on seafarers active at sea working听for companies outside the membership of the UK Chamber of Shipping.听听听Unfortunately, this data proved to be insufficient to allow improved听听 estimates to be published at this time. Instead, we have tried to听more听clearly set out the coverage and limitations of the existing estimates, and present听additional听information alongside to give wider context. In 2020, we included proposals to estimate for non-respondents in the Chamber of Shipping (CoS) survey to ensure the results better听represent听the Chamber membership. We听have been听monitoring听feedback on the proposed approach.
Information on trainee ratings to be included, where available	We have included further statistics on maritime apprenticeships in听蝉别肠迟颈辞苍听4听of the release.
Statistics relating to seafarers of other nationalities working in the UK industry	听We have included published data tables including听figures for non-UK seafarers from the EEA and the rest of the world, based on the Chamber of Shipping seafarer employment survey, and nationality听breakdowns based on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) certification听data.
Statistics on seafarer pay and conditions	This is not something that we are currently able to provide information on.听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

Question 3

听2. Accuracy and Reliability听

Accepted Answer

Accuracy refers to how close the estimated value in the output is to the true result.听

These statistics aim to provide the best available estimate for the number of UK seafarers active at sea. Overall, the statistics are likely to provide a good听indication听of trends over time 鈥� however given the statistics provide an estimation the absolute numbers provided should be treated as an estimate.听This is noted in the commentary of the release as听appropriate.听

The MCA data source on certificated officers comes from an administrative听database, and data on certificated officers is comprehensive and of a high quality as officers听have to听hold certificates issued or recognised by the MCA听in order to听work in the profession.听听

However, when considering how accurately the figures听represent听estimates of UK seafarers active at sea there are some potential risks of error:听

Certificates are valid for five years and the MCA does not hold information听regarding听the current employment status of certificated officers making it necessary to estimate the number听of听these officers who are active at sea. DfT mitigates this by assuming 16% of certificated seafarers are not active at sea. This is based on a 2004 study by London Metropolitan University (United Kingdom Seafarers Analysis 2004, D Glen, J Dowden and R Wilson, London Metropolitan University).听

Changes to the certification system could听impact听figures. The department works closely with the MCA to understand changes to the MCA certification system and provide听appropriate information听in the statistical release if necessary听(such as when new certificates are introduced).听

In 2023, Small Vessel (SV) Engine certificates replaced Yacht and TIC Engine certificates. For 2023 onwards, legacy Yacht and TIC Engine certificates are included within SV Engine certificates in this release. SV Engine certificates cover those working on fishing vessels, yachts, tugs, workboats, standby, seismic survey, oceanographic research听vessels听and government patrol vessels. Therefore,听SV Engine certificates are not comparable with TIC and Yacht Engine certificates in previous years.听

The听CoS听survey provides estimates uncertificated officers and ratings, as well as certificated officer figures.听There are听a number of听considerations that need to be听taken into account听when using the听CoS听survey data:听

Although the survey听is considered to be听补听reasonably comprehensive听survey听of the Chamber鈥檚 members听with high response rates,听they听can vary across the years which can听impact听the overall trends and make it difficult to compare trends over time. In 2020, DfT included proposals to estimate for non-respondents in the Chamber of Shipping (CoS) survey to ensure the results better听represent听the Chamber membership. We听have been听monitoring听feedback on the proposed approach.听Information on yearly response rates to the survey is included as background information in the release; these are听monitored听with the听CoS听to ensure the response rate听remains听high.听

Not all seafarers听in the UK shipping industry听will be employed by听CoS听members, although the numbers employed elsewhere are expected to be small. DfT collected data on seafarers active at sea working for companies outside the membership of the UK Chamber of Shipping. Unfortunately, this data proved to be insufficient to allow improved estimates to be published. Instead, we have tried to听more clearly set out the coverage and limitations of the existing estimates, and present听additional听information alongside to give wider context.听

Some job titles provided by employers may be inconsistent,听opening up听the possibility of misclassification or inconsistencies over time. Before the survey is sent to DfT, the Chamber reviews the returns to ensure听appropriate classification.听

Combining all these points, the听CoS听statistics can fluctuate from year to year and should be treated with caution. Therefore, the results should be used as a general听indication听to broad levels of employment.听This is听indicated听in the release where听appropriate alongside听the key findings.听

Question 4

听3. Timeliness and punctuality听

Accepted Answer

Timeliness describes the time between the data of publication and the date to which the data refers, and punctuality describes the time between the actual publication and the planned publication of a statistic.听

Seafarer statistics are currently published annually, and provide figures as听at听June of听the previous听year.听The MCA data is collected from an administrative database and is requested in September. The听CoS听survey is run in the summer months with cleaned and validated data provided听in听December.听The production of the annual release usually begins in听December once the听CoS听survey results have been collected and finalised. In most recent听years听the听annual听statistics听have been听published in听February听with data for the previous听year (e.g.听2022听statistics were published in听February听2023).听听

Question 5

4. Accessibility and Clarity听

Accepted Answer

Accessibility is the ease with which users听are able to听access the data, also reflecting the format in which the data are available and the availability of supporting information. Clarity refers to the quality and sufficiency of the metadata,听illustrations听and accompanying advice.听

Accessibility:

The outputs are published on the 扒哥吃瓜 DfT statistics page in accessible formats:听

蝉迟补迟颈蝉迟颈肠补濒听谤别濒别补蝉别s are available as PDFs, which are made accessible for those who use assistive technologies听
dat补听tables are available in ODS file format which can be accessed by using freely available software听

Clarity:听

The statistical releases use plain language, in which technical terms, acronyms and definitions are defined where听appropriate. The main findings are presented using a series of text and charts. Full details of the strengths and weaknesses of the data, as well as full definitions and a glossary, are provided in the听seafarers听technical note.听

Question 6

听5. Coherence and Comparability听

Accepted Answer

Comparability is the degree to which data can be compared over time and domain. Coherence is the degree to which data that are derived from听different sources听or methods, but refer to the same topic, are similar.

Comparability:

The statistical series for MCA certification data covers trends since 1997 for overall certificate trends, with further certificate breakdowns available from 2009. This data source听is considered to be听comparable over time听until 2022, being extracted from the same administrative system.听For 2023 onwards, data provided by MCA has been calculated using a different听methodology听and is not comparable with previous years.听

The statistical series for the听CoS听seafarer employment survey covers trends since 2002 for uncertificated officers and ratings, and since 2010 for certificated officers. Fluctuations in trends over time for this data source should be interpreted with caution because:听

trends听over time can be听impacted听by which companies respond听in a given year听
trends听over time can be听impacted听by companies听joining and听leaving the Chamber听

In 2020, DfT included proposals to estimate for non-respondents in the Chamber of Shipping (CoS) survey to ensure the results better听represent听the Chamber membership. When trends are听impacted听by companies leaving the Chamber, DfT includes this information in the release.听

Coherence:

There are limited sources available to make comparisons, however certificated data is available in both the听CoS听survey and MCA data. UK certificated officer trends across both data sources show 补听relatively stable听trend over the last 10 years, although听CoS听UK certificated figures are lower than MCA data given the figures are only for Chamber members听whereas听the MCA figures relate to all UK seafarers with certificates.听

The statistical release does not听attempt听to count everyone who works in a seagoing capacity in the UK; the focus is on the 鈥榤erchant navy鈥� for which seafarer certification is managed by the MCA. The following are other groups that are outside the scope of this publication but may听be considered to be听in seafarer roles:听

the听Royal Navy, which has a regular trained strength of around听38,000 based on Ministry of Defence听statistics听听
superyachts听鈥� most UK nationals working as crew aboard yachts will not be in scope of the above statistics (though Officers with MCA certificates to work on yachts will be included)听
inland听waterways 鈥撎齌he听MCA issued听2,230听Boatmaster听licences for work on inland waters and near coastal work over the five years听from 2021 to 2025.听
those听working in roles on shore听

It is possible that seafarers can belong to more than one of these groups. Producing an overall estimate of all UK nationals working at sea from the available data is challenging.听

Question 7

6. Trade-offs between Output Quality Components听

Accepted Answer

Trade-offs between output quality components describes the extent to which听different aspects听of quality are balanced against each other.听

The main trade off in these statistics is between timeliness and quality 鈥� the annual figures could be produced around a month earlier if a lower response rate听was听accepted for the听CoS听survey. Currently the annual release is听published once the Chamber confirm听that all听possible responses听for that year have been provided.听Given the听seafarers听publication is assessed to be听timely听(usually published in听February听with data for the听previous听year) this approach is to maximise quality for the survey data.听

Question 8

7. Assessment of User Needs and Perceptions听

Accepted Answer

Assessment of user needs and听perception听covers the processes for finding out about users and uses, and their views on the statistical product.听

DfT regularly engages with users by social media,听email听and face to face methods when possible. This includes requesting regular feedback on the statistical series, with contact details provided in every statistical release. Each publication is promoted via Twitter.听

DfT also regularly analyses web page usage, ad-hoc requests and social media analytics to听monitor听activity over time. In line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, users will be informed about any changes or revisions to the data series.听

In 2016, a seafarer user engagement exercise was published, seeking views on the use of the statistics and potential improvement.听Although only three responses were received, the feedback and听subsequent听actions were published in the technical note and are contained in听section听1听of听this report.听

Question 9

8. Performance, Cost and Respondent Burden听

Accepted Answer

Performance,听cost听and respondent burden听describes听the effectiveness,听efficiency听and economy of the statistical output.听

The overall respondent burden related to these statistics听is considered to be听small.听听

The MCA data on certificates is sourced from an administrative database which records the information for operational purposes already, so the only听additional听burden for the MCA relates to compiling the figures and sending them to听DfT, and听working with DfT if there are any validation queries.听

Depending on the size of the Chamber of Shipping and the response rate DfT can receive between 70 and 130 responses to the survey each year. It is considered that in most cases the employment figures can be easily extracted听by听CoS听members听from administrative or management information systems, as this information is likely to be recorded already for other purposes. Again, the only听additional听burden should be compiling the figures and sending them to听DfT.听Based on the length of the form and amount of information听requested, it is expected that the survey should not take longer than 1 hour to complete.听

Question 10

9. Confidentiality, Transparency and Security听

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality,听transparency听and security听refers听to the procedures and policy used to ensure sound confidentiality,听security听and transparent practices.听

All data is stored,听accessed听and analysed using DfT secure IT systems. Data protection regulations are adhered to throughout the seafarer statistics production process, and any information provided to DfT by听the听MCA or the听CoS听is kept securely where access to data is controlled听in accordance with听departmental policy.听

The information used to compile these statistics provides details on company name, seafarer age,听gender听and nationality. Some demographic details are provided at an individual seafarer听level听but no personal details are attached to these demographics. The published statistics do not include figures by individual company, as data is presented in an aggregated format. No statistical disclosure control methods are applied to the outputs, as variables included in the statistics are not considered to be sensitive.听听

DfT aims to publish as much data as is possible whilst ensuring that personal and commercial confidentiality is听maintained.听

DfT adheres to the principles and protocols laid out in the Code of Practice for Statistics and听complies听with听pre-release access agreements. The pre-release access lists are available on the DfT听website.听

Question 11

Section 2: Summary听

Accepted Answer

This Background Quality Report presents information for users of the seafarer statistics covering听different aspects听of quality. The Department concludes,听on the basis of听the assessment outlined above, that the statistics are of a quality which is considered fit for the purposes for which the statistics are being used.听

Comments and feedback on this report, or any other aspect of these statistics are welcome, and can be provided by email to听seafarer.stats@dft.gov.uk.听听

Further information听

Data tables:听

Alongside each publication a series of dat补听tables are published.听

Technical note:听

The maritime statistics guidance page includes a 迟别肠丑苍颈肠补濒听苍辞迟别 for the seafarer statistics. This听contains听notes and definitions, information about the data sources used, and strengths and weaknesses of the data.听

Statistical quality:听

The European Statistical System (ESS) handbook for quality听report听provides听comprehensive guidance on measuring the quality of statistical processes.

The听Code of听Practice听sets out common standards that should be followed by all UK organisations that produce official Code of Practice statistics.

扒哥吃瓜