The European Maritime Skills Forum – launched in Brussels in January 2025 – is a new cooperation platform that brings together key maritime stakeholders to address the evolving skills needs of the sector. Building on the legacy of the EU-funded SkillSea project, the Forum connects industry representatives, maritime education and training providers, trade unions, policymakers, and national authorities. It aims to foster dialogue, share best practices, and develop strategic approaches to skills development in support of a people-centred green and digital maritime transition.
Objectives
Building on the findings of the EU-funded SkillSea project, which highlighted a projected need to upskill and reskill some 250 000 seafarers by 2030, the European Maritime Skills Forum has established three thematic workstreams:
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Green Skills: developing training on clean-fuel technologies and sustainable operations
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Digitalisation: addressing priorities such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data management
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Leadership & Inclusion: enhancing soft skills, resilience, diversity and career pathways
Each workstream will convene throughout the year to develop practical recommendations and tools. Outcomes will be presented at the next Forum plenary meeting, where all stakeholders will agree on the next steps for creating a robust, future-proof maritime workforce.
Launch event:
The European Maritime Skills Forum was launched with an event in Brussels on 21 January 2025:
Organisers
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