- Guidance Targets Seafarers on Ammonia, Methanol and Hydrogen Ships.
- Instructor Handbooks and Familiarisation Guidelines Released.
- Frameworks Support Regulators, Certification and Competency Standards.
The Maritime Just Transition Task Force (MJTTF) unveiled new training frameworks on September 17 to assist seafarers working on ships that run on ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen. These frameworks are designed to offer crucial guidance for establishing consistent training standards for alternative fuels, reports ICS.
Scope of Training and Guidance
These frameworks cater to both entry-level and operational seafarers, as well as senior officers, and come with detailed instructor handbooks. There are plans to release additional guidelines for general familiarisation programs aimed at seafarers and key shore-based personnel who aren’t specifically addressed by the 1978 STCW Convention.
Support for Regulators and Training Institutions
The frameworks will aid regulators and maritime administrations in setting up criteria for training programs, certification schemes, and competency validation processes. Training will encompass classroom instruction, simulation-based assessments, and hands-on sea-time experience. Maritime education and training institutions will have the opportunity to refresh their curricula and teaching methods, while shipping companies will gain valuable insights into onboarding personnel and safety management systems that are specifically tailored to the risks associated with alternative fuels.
Project Collaboration and Development
The training frameworks and familiarisation guidelines stem from ‘The Baseline Training Frameworks for Seafarers in Decarbonisation’ Project. This initiative is a joint effort between MJTTF and the IMO Secretariat, with valuable support from Lloyd’s Register (LR). The delivery was spearheaded by the Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub (The Decarb Hub) and the World Maritime University (WMU), who took on the roles of technical and academic leaders. The project received co-funding from the IMO’s Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme and the Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
Alignment with IMO Standards
This project was crafted in tandem with the IMO’s review of the 1978 STCW Convention and Code. Its results, especially in outlining the knowledge and skills required for seafarers in the realm of decarbonisation, will play a significant role in the IMO review process, including contributions to the Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping. MJTTF and its partners acknowledged the IMO’s crucial role in establishing a unified global training framework for seafarers who will be working with alternative fuels and cutting-edge technologies.
Launch Celebrated at Shipping Week 2025
The frameworks made their debut during LR’s Maritime Human Capital Management Forum, which took place alongside London International Shipping Week 2025. The event underscored the importance of the human element, safety, training, and the principles of a just transition, key factors in the shipping industry’s journey toward net-zero.
Call for Industry Adoption
The release of these frameworks serves as both a launch and a call to action. Stakeholders are invited to utilise them, expand upon them, share them widely, and weave them into training programs to equip seafarers for the fuels of tomorrow.
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Source: ICS
