For 2022, ETF’s main priority in the maritime sector is to have the fundamental social rights of waterborne transport workers recognized, respected and implemented at the EU level From the ongoing challenge of seafarers, crew members and fishers sometimes being denied emergency medical treatment by port states to the global scandal that is the crew change crisis, waterborne transport workers need proper recognition and a sustainable future. News 14 Jan 2022
European research confirms the need for innovation in maritime education A new report of the SkillSea project confirms that digitisation and modern technologies have been rapidly changing the maritime sector in recent years. European maritime professionals, both at sea and ashore, need more digital and soft skills to stay ahead of the industry. News 27 May 2020
Radical changes required to future-proof training and education of maritime professionals As part of the SkillSea project, a new report was released – Current Skills Needs: Reality and Mapping. Researchers surveyed more than 1,600 maritime professionals – 1,149 seafarers and 474 shore-based personnel – to get their views on the adequacy of current maritime training and education and what they consider to be the most important skills needs. News 19 Mar 2020
“People must be put first!” – ETF reaction to the Opatija Declaration On Wednesday, EU Transport Ministers adopted the Opatija Declaration on the future outlook of EU Waterborne Transport. ETF welcomes the attention given to some of the ongoing industry challenges, and at the same time highlights several points that we believe merit further consideration and follow-up both of the EU Member States and the European Commission. Statement 13 Mar 2020
The future of European Shipping needs to be social! Last week, European Shipping Week 2020 was held in Brussels, organised by the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA). This year, the ETF Maritime Transport section took part in a variety of ways, with trade union representatives from nine different countries attending and contributing to the programme. Event 25 Feb 2020
Where can you find us during the 2020 European Shipping Week? In addition to an event on seafarers’ employment organised by ETF affiliates, we will be involved in a number of other events together with the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA). We will be presenting results from joint projects and upcoming activities, as well as offer a better insight into the perspective of seafarers in terms of skills needs, digitalization, and equal opportunities. Event 10 Feb 2020
Water transport sectors meet in Hamburg to discuss the impacts of automation & digitalisation On 11 and 12 December, workers and union representatives from the water transport sectors met in Hamburg for a workshop on automation and digitalisation. The workshop is part of the project ETF Automation & Digitalisation Toolkit, aimed at developing tools to empower workers during the processes of automation and digitalization (A&D). News 18 Dec 2019
ETF and ECSA welcome the adoption of the Regulation establishing a European Maritime Single Window environment The establishment of a European Maritime Single Window environment should deliver a long-awaited administrative simplification for masters and officers working onboard ships calling at EU ports. This should contribute to reducing stress and fatigue, and should be accompanied by adequate training and support from staff ashore. Press Release 18 Apr 2019
ETF and partners launch EU-funded project for futureproof skills in maritime transport European maritime sector receives EU funding for a ‘SkillSea’ project for sectoral co-operation on skills and training. News 20 Nov 2018