Based on the outcomes of this final report, we can happily say that the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) together with the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) are better prepared to explain the requirements for any EU-wide data collection system to foresee the needs of the workforce in this sector and so, to better respond to the future challenges.

The EU funded MapMar project was implemented by ETF and ECSA during the pandemic that exposed the need for reliable, comparable and accurate data and benefited of the expertise of Solent University and “Seafarers International Research Centre” (SIRC), from Cardiff University. The aim of the project was to examine how to improve the way data is collected on employment of maritime professionals and to offer concrete recommendations on how to build an adequate data collection system.

The final report was presented during a virtual webinar taking place on the 30^th of September 2021. The online event gathered many participants from across Europe and the results of the final report, presented by the experts from Cardiff University, were then analysed in a vivid debate between the ETF and ECSA representatives and the experts of the European Commission.

Estelle Brentnall, Head of Maritime at ETF, considers that:
‘We have now a clearer picture of the situation of seafarers’ data and this offers us a really good chance to substantially contribute to building a full-scale European-level data collection system in the maritime sector. From now on, our joint purpose – ETF and ECSA – will be to use all our efforts to find the best ways to take the findings to EU policymakers!’

Rosella Marasco, Director Social and Legal Affairs at ECSA adds:
‘We are convinced that accurate, reliable and standardised data of maritime professionals are essential to the development of appropriate strategic responses to the challenges the shipping industry faces. Together with our social partner ETF, we are looking forward to building a constructive dialogue with the EU policy makers for the benefit of the maritime community’.