As the effects of decarbonisation are increasingly felt within the maritime industry, a just transition could benefit significantly from having seafarer feedback engaged from ship design right through to updated operations, says Seafarers Hospital Society CEO Sandra Welch.
Seafaring is set to change significantly over the coming decades as the maritime industry pursues decarbonisation goals — bringing in changes to the fuels bunkered and used onboard, scaled up technology and digitalisation, and a greater incorporation of automation onboard vessels of all types.
These changes will significantly impact seafarers and their workplaces, yet crew members are curiously absent from our industry’s conversations about the future of an industry that is relies on their contributions.
As stakeholders, crew have a vested interest in safe and sustainable solutions, supportive green technologies, and improved ship design. Their roles onboard mean they are intrinsic to discussions about technology onboard, impact of regulations, what is needed to support recruitment and retention, and how best to streamline operations for a more efficient future.
The Society’s recent panel discussion on ‘Decarbonisation: Sustainability and Crewing enroute to 2050’ sought to address this gap by bringing together a range of expert stakeholders to the table — including experienced and serving seafarers — to highlight the opportunities that remain unexplored in maritime’s Just Transition.
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With thanks to World Ports Org.
