Abstract

The global diffusion of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) poses significant but underexamined challenges for seafarers in developing nations. Drawing on a quantitative survey of 51 active Myanmar seafarer officers administered via Google Forms between June and September 2025, this paper investigates perceptions of employment security, socio-economic impact, and competency readiness in relation to emerging autonomous shipping technologies. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics. Results indicate that 51.0% of respondents expected MASS to reduce job availability, whereas 41.2% anticipated a transition toward new professional responsibilities. A critical competency gap was identified: 49.0% of respondents identified remote ship monitoring as the most essential emerging skill, followed by autonomous systems maintenance (31.4%). Findings indicate that existing Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) frameworks are inadequately aligned with these emerging competency requirements. Evidence-based recommendations are advanced for Myanmar’s maritime education and training institutions and regulatory authorities, with broader implications for developing seafarer-supplying nations.