In 2001, the Maritime Administration contracted with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics at the Department of Transportation to conduct a Mariner Survey with the purpose of collecting--

• General information on mariners qualified for deep sea services;
• Qualifications held by the license/documentation mariners;
• Status of meeting in STCW-95 qualifications;
• Recentness of sailing experience; and
• Willingness to sail in an emergency

The follow-up survey, 2002 Mariner Survey Principal Findings, focused on updating and expanding information on key readiness and training issues.  Of those, who completed the survey, findings showed that the majority of mariners--

• Are working in the industry;
• Are sailing or attempting to sail on ocean-ongoing vessels; and
• Are planning to serve at sea in the future and have or intend to obtain an STCW-95 certificate