Maritime experts gathered in Lisbon from 14 to 18 September 2026 to examine how seafarer competence must evolve as the sector adopts alternative fuels and new technologies. A report published by reports on 24 September 2026 summarised delegates' views and experiences from the event.
Delegates from maritime administrations, industry, maritime education and training institutions, international organisations and academia described overlapping challenges as ships, systems and fuels change, and they agreed that seafarer training and assessment require urgent review to remain effective and safe in operational practice.
Training content and delivery
Participants emphasised that curricula must reflect the technical and operational realities of new propulsion systems and onboard automation, with a stronger focus on system understanding, risk awareness and hands-on familiarisation to ensure shore-based learning transfers safely to the ship environment.
The report noted calls for a blend of classroom theory, simulator practice and supervised onboard experience, and for continued professional development to be treated as a routine expectation rather than an occasional upgrade.
Regulatory and certification challenges
Speakers highlighted the need for clearer, harmonised guidance from flag and port states so that certificates and approvals align with the competencies required for different fuel and technology pathways, reducing gaps between training outcomes and regulatory expectations.
Delegates also pointed to the complexity created when different administrations take divergent interpretations of existing standards, creating uncertainty for training providers, employers and seafarers seeking recognition of new skills across jurisdictions.
Collaboration and practical steps
The event underscored the pivotal role of collaboration between shipping companies, training academies and regulators to develop standardised modules, agreed assessment frameworks and mechanisms for rapid knowledge exchange as technologies proliferate.
Delegates urged industry bodies and educators to map role-specific competency profiles, share best practice in instructional design, and consider pooled resources for simulation and specialist instructor training so that smaller training establishments can maintain up-to-date provision.
A recurrent theme in the report was the importance of bridging academic research and operational practice, with those on the bridge and in engineering spaces expected to engage with developers and regulators to shape realistic training objectives and assessment criteria that reflect daily work on board.
Practical recommendations emerging from the discussions included clearer pathways for experienced seafarers to requalify against new competencies through tailored programmes, recognition of prior learning where appropriate, and investment in instructor development to ensure teaching keeps pace with technical change.
The reports summary made plain that while the pace of change presents significant training demands, the sector possesses the collaborative structures needed to respond if stakeholders commit to timely, coordinated action that places seafarer competence at the centre of the energy and technology transition.
For policy makers and training providers the message was direct: durable solutions will combine updated curricula, consistent regulation, accessible practical training and ongoing professional development so that seafarers can operate safely and efficiently as the fleet of the future comes into service.