The European Maritime Skills Forum held its second plenary session in Brussels, reaffirming the shared commitment of European Shipowners and seafarers’ unions to address the skill challenge of the green and digital transition.

According to the Draghi report, 250,000 seafarers in Europe alone will need to be upskilled or reskilled over the next decade. The recently published European Industrial Maritime Strategy highlights this urgency, calling on policymakers and social partners to identify current and future skills gaps and develop targeted upskilling and reskilling programmes for the maritime workforce.

The European Maritime Skills Forum (EMSF) – a joint initiative of European Shipowners | ECSA and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) – brings together industry, transport unions, seafarers, policymakers, and maritime training centres across Europe under the Maritime Education and Training Network (MET-NET). The EMSF workstreams presented today their first sets of recommendations on Green Skills, Digital Skills, and Leadership & Inclusion.

“The second plenary of the European Maritime Skills Forum shows that our commitment to upskilling and reskilling of seafarers is moving from words to action. The green and digital transition is reshaping maritime operations, and we need to ensure our workforce is ready. This transition is an opportunity to increase diversity in the sector. Diversity is not about nice words but about creating a thriving working environment. It is not a luxury. It is a business necessity” said Sotiris Raptis, Secretary General of European Shipowners | ECSA.

“Seafarers must be at the centre of every decision we make about the transition ahead. At today’s plenary, we are focused on making upskilling and reskilling programmes concrete, fit-for-purpose and inclusive – designed for the people who keep ships moving. Behind every automated system, every green fuel, every innovation, there are people making critical decisions, and we must invest not only in smarter ships but in a stronger, more capable and more supported workforce. The European Maritime Skills Forum shows what can be achieved when shipowners, unions and academia work together with a common purpose.  Through the Forum, we respond to the need highlighted by the Industrial Maritime Strategy to enhance collaboration between social partners and academia to design future-proof training“ said Livia Spera, General Secretary, ETF.