IAME 2020 CONFERENCE | HONG KONG Paper ID 372 IAME 2020 Conference, 10-13 June, PolyU, Hong Kong Chrysa Tsalichi University of the Aegean Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport xtsalichi@stt.aegean.gr Ioannis Theotokas University of Piraeus Department of Maritime Studies gtheotokas@unipi.gr The renewal of interest for the seafaring profession in Greece. A long-term trend or a short-term phenomenon? Abstract The maritime profession has always been an outlet for employment in Greece, especially in times of economic and social crisis, building the shipping tradition and the maritime know-how. Nowadays, the seafaring profession is once again attractive, re-launching its image, as it offers career opportunities, but the career patterns have been differentiated. The aim of this research is to examine the trends as regards the attractiveness of seafaring in Greece as well as the factors that contribute to shaping those trends over the last 20 years. Official statistics underestimate the seafaring workforce in Greece. This study proposes an approach for estimation of seafaring workforce in order to highlight the contribution of profession to Greek economy and its perspective in Greece, as well as to create knowledge which will contribute to the effective regulation of seafaring labour market. Keywords: seafarers, attractiveness, Greek shipping, employment, seafaring labour market. 1. Introduction It is a common realization that the number of seafarers from traditional maritime nations is continually decreased as the seafaring profession is not considered as attractive as in the past. Despite the fact that several conditions related to the core characteristics of the profession are nowadays totally different (shorter periods of contract of employment, communication facilities at low or no cost at all, legal framework for the protection of seafarer etc.) there are others that work in reverse directions (criminalization, piracy etc.). The constant decrease of the numbers of seafarers in Europe, poses serious questions as regard the ability of European Shipping Industry to remain competitive in the global markets.