Union pushes for Just Transition at new fuels training launch

Nautilus spoke up for seafarers' rights at a 17 September launch of industry-wide training frameworks for new maritime fuels.  

Union members were represented by head of international relations Danny McGowan at the LISW Human Capital Management Forum, which was held in London to celebrate the publication of training frameworks for seafarers onboard ships powered by ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen, and to discuss advancing seafarer training for alternative fuels.

The high-level event included delegates from the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Lloyd's Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, and Lloyd's Register Foundation.

Opening the event, Kjersti Aass – head of the UN Global Compact's Maritime Just Transition Task Force, said: 'Today marks the milestone launch of training frameworks to help maritime education and training organisations prepare crews for new era of shipping, working onboard vessels fuelled by ammonia, methanol and hydrogen.

'This work has been done in parallel with IMO STCW review, and a number of stakeholders have contributed to the work – thank you to them, including to the unions who bring voice of seafarers to this work.

'Today's release is not the end of the project but the beginning of a journey. Success of this project means that seafarers will be able to work with these fuels more safely.'

Three panels were held, discussing the shortage of skilled seafarers – including talk of recruitment, retention, diversity, mental health and how the industry needs to change in future.

Participating in the second panel, Mr McGowan took the opportunity to urge shipowners, employers and other stakeholders to review the Nautilus Federation's Mapping Our Maritime Future report to help them gain a deep understanding of seafarers' views on technological change in the industry.

He laid out key findings – including the fact that while 76% of seafarers welcome decarbonisation, 60% of seafarers have not received any communication from their company about the decarbonisation strategy – and that many are concerned about their jobs due to automation rather than excited at the opportunities presented to reduce working hours and resolved fatigue/safety problems.

He also highlighted seafarer worries around the safety of new fuels and criminalisation when incidents occur involving the new technology, saying that the solution is to 'urge the world's most reputable shipowners to raise standards, strive for continuous improvement in safety and with seafarers' rights, and raise the ceiling rather than striving to match minimum standards that are barely followed by less reputable operators.'

To address the seafarer shortage, he told attendees that the industry must improve pay and terms and conditions in the industry. 'Maritime is the first industry to go through such a wholesale change. Without adequate recruitment and retention considerations during this transition, we will lose important skills to other industries and find ourselves having made a great deal of investment with little return,' he said.

He concluded by stating that the industry as a whole should encourage companies and unions in emerging maritime economies to get in touch with Nautilus and the ITF to ensure that appropriate terms, conditions and standards are being applied for all during this critical time.