At the second plenary session of the European Maritime Skills Forum in Brussels, European shipowners and trade unions reaffirmed their cooperation to prepare employees for the green and digital transformation.
The background to this is the considerable need for training in the coming years, according to industry figures. According to the Draghi report, around 250,000 seafarers in Europe will need further training or retraining for new requirements within the next decade. The recently published European Industrial Strategy for the Maritime Economy also highlights the need to identify existing and future skills gaps and develop targeted programs for the maritime world of work.
The European Maritime Skills Forum (EMSF) is a joint initiative of the European Shipowners (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF). In addition to shipping companies and trade unions, seafarers, political decision-makers and maritime training institutions from all over Europe are also involved in the MET-NET network. At the meeting in Brussels, the working groups presented initial recommendations on the topics of green skills, digital skills, leadership and inclusion.
“The second plenary of the European Maritime Skills Forum shows that our commitment to upskilling and reskilling seafarers is moving from words to action. The green and digital transitions are changing maritime operations and we need to ensure that our workforce is prepared. This change is an opportunity to increase diversity in the sector. Diversity is not about fine words, it is about creating a working environment where people can thrive. It is not a luxury. It is a business necessity,” emphasizes ECSA Secretary General Sotiris Raptis.
From the perspective of those involved, this is not just about new technical requirements on board, but also about the question of how the industry can prepare its workforce for changed operating processes in the long term. The green and digital transformation is already significantly changing the shipping industry, the organizations explained. At the same time, they also see this as an opportunity to increase diversity in the sector and make working conditions more attractive.
The forum is officially supported by the European Commission. The aim is to strengthen cooperation between social partners and training institutions and to align training courses more closely with the future requirements of the shipping industry.
