European Maritime Skills Forum launches to address industry needs, focusing on education, new fuels, digitalisation, and leadership
On January 21, the inaugural meeting of the European Maritime Skills Forum (E-MSF) was held in Brussels. This forum brings together key maritime stakeholders, including the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), members of the European Commission (DG-MOVE), and the Maritime Education and Training Network (MET-NET), which was initiated by the STC Group.
The STC Group plays a crucial role in the creation and development of MET-NET. Originally a collaboration between five maritime academies, the network has grown to include 21 maritime training institutions across Europe. MET-NET has become an essential discussion partner for shipowners, trade unions, and the European Union on matters of maritime education and training.
Previously, STC led the development of EDINNA, a European initiative focused on inland shipping education. The experience gained from this initiative is now being applied to further strengthen MET-NET, aligning maritime education with the needs of the industry. A key focus of MET-NET and the new forum is to influence learning outcomes and objectives under the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) convention.
At the first European Maritime Skills Forum meeting, knowledge-sharing sessions were held, and three working groups were established to address critical issues:
- New fuels – Including links to the Dutch Maritime Master Plan.
- Digitalisation – Investigating how digital innovations affect maritime professions.
- Leadership – Developing learning objectives around ‘Bullying and Harassment,’ a priority issue for the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Between 2019 and late 2023, the STC Group led the European SkillSea project, which analysed current and future skills gaps in the maritime sector. The project provided recommendations that have been integrated into the strategic plans of DG MOVE and DG Employability. Educational packages were also developed to address sector needs.
Although the SkillSea project has ended, participating organisations recognised the importance of continued collaboration. This led to the formal establishment of MET-NET, with STC continuing to serve as a central coordinating body.
With this new partnership, the STC Group remains dedicated to ensuring the long-term resilience and relevance of maritime education and training across Europe.
Source: Press Release