The recently published (August 2016) 'Seafarer Statistics in the EU - Statistical review (2014 data STCW-IS)' represents a snap-shot of the European labour market in terms of the number of seafarers holding valid certificates and endorsements in 2014. This is the first year in repect of which such data is available. As more data is collected in the coming years, this will make possible trend analysis that should hopefully contribute to a better understanding of the maritime labour fource in Europe