Environmental practices, regulations regarding air pollution, the price of marine fuels, and higher taxes increase the demand for improving energy efficiency in maritime transportation. Some published studies have shown that several measures that improve energy efficiency should be cost-efficient. Ship energy efficiency measures offer many alternatives to ship owners and operators to improve fuel economy and reduce carbon emissions. The amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex VI were adopted by the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) as a new chapter (Chapter 4) in 2011. Thus, Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ships and Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships have been mandatory since 1 January 2013. While EEDI facilitates implementation of technical measures by using more energy efficient equipment and engines to reduce carbon emissions for new ships, SEEMP aims to improve the energy efficiency both for new and existing ships by using operational applications developed through the existing technologies in ships, raising the awareness of the crew, and providing necessary training on energy efficiency.There is a need to make shipping more energy efficient. There are several measures which are not implemented successfully due to the existence of barriers to ship energy efficiency and the lack of information of the measure and competence of crew. Efficient use of energy can only be possible by raising the awareness of the crew who has a working role to operate ships, including shore-based personnel.The project MarEd addressed the need for ship energy efficiency trainings and assessments about shipping industry and also for improving the skills of each individual involved in ship energy efficiency issues. This requirement was met by MarEd Online Training Course and MarEd Assessment Tool which were generated through MarEd Project. Due to the limitation of Mobility Tool's Annex (Section 8), all the documents for MarEd Project (activities, output results, surveys etc.) can be found under the Download link at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/s79qsptyy0c1r5z/AADPYPPI86_WX9g1ubkSzuq5a?dl=0The world of profession and education was linked by MarEd project through classifying the differences between theory and practice, and generating a tool to shape and acquire qualifications for all the staff (seafarers and shore-based personnel). A staged learning (from basic to extended knowledge) model was implemented to enlighten seafarers and staff working in different levels of command. Finally, MarEd Online Training Course and MarEd Assessment Tool were generated through MarEd Project for the departments and the staff mentioned below participated in the training.o Seafarers with different Management Levels (Captains, Chief engineers, Deck Officers, and Engine Officers), seafarers with Deck and Engine Rating Levels.o Shore Staff (Superintendents, fleet managers, energy managers and etc.)All energy efficiency gaps in the shipping industry were identified and distance learning modules were created by the Project Team to train the staff and improve the familiarity and knowledge on the following fields:• Understand existing energy efficiency drivers.• Raise consciousness of staff regarding the most effective solutions to enhance the fuel economy of ships.• Cope with having a grasp of regulations and conventions.• Make an assessment of the energy efficiency methods and technologies.• Maintain a grasp onthe progress in ship construction, design and propulsion as well as Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) calculation.• Maintain strategies on the ship’s operational efficiency optimization and measurement within the scope of Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP).• Maintain all related matters concerning real-time voyage optimization.• In addition, this project aimed at instilling a common set of required information and skills to Maritime Education and Training (MET) students. Thus, the students were able to spread the information in their countries/organizations and raise the awareness regarding the implementation of energy efficiency policies such as MARPOL Annex VI.Maritime vessels and local, national, and international shipping companies benefitted from the education provided by the MarEd online training course based on particular equipment onboard and shore company.The main objectives of project MarEd are as follows: - To define the differences between theory and practical application through a questionnaire-led requirements analysis and knowledge based on the research of previous ship energy efficiency implementations, - To create an online training course for the best effect possible and most realistic method of carrying out ship energy efficiency measures for all types of ships taking account of the navigation equipment and tools available as well as the involvements of other different stakeholders, - To plan an Assessment Tool that enables the user to have a credible certificate for the skills acquired recently.Six major and leading maritime and/or educational organizations constituted the project consortium. Most partners have many years of experience in EU projects. They are also policymakers and decision-makers, and some of them are social partners in the maritime and educational sectors.The following results were achieved at the end of the project:- In terms of Need Analysis, research training needs were identified through a questionnaire survey.- In terms of Content Development for the Platform, the content of the online training and assessment platform was designed and configured. - The online platform “www.mared.odenes.com” was created and configured. - In terms of the Testing and Improving activities, the e-learning system was developed. In order to develop this system, approval of industrial and social partners was received during local workshops. (A face-to-face local workshop was held in Glasgow led by Calmac. In addition, a local workshop led by APA was held online).A straightforward influence on seafarers was obtained by the MarEd online Training Course training which provided particular information to the user on how to carry out the ship energy efficiency measures in specific scenarios given the specific equipment on board. As a project impact, an innovative web-based platform was provided by the project for seafarers, related personnel and shipbuilding personnel to improve their skills and learn how to carry out ship energy efficiency measures in the best way in accordance with MARPOL Annex 6. This will facilitate the mutual recognition of competencies, thus enhancing worker’s qualifications and mobility. The staff will develop skills to accurately carry out towards carbon emissions measurements in general and shipping carbon emission measurements as well as to make operational changes. The effective distribution of the project will enable other EU countries to obtain similar advantages in accordance with MARPOL Annex 6. As a result, a positive impact on seaborne trade will be created within the EU. Operators involved in the provision of maritime transport services and the European maritime transport will adopt the course in a short period. Thus the seas will be efficient which are anticipated to allow competitiveness of the shipping companies.

Maritime profession, due to the diversity of risks involved and harshness of working conditions at sea, is acknowledged to be among the one of the most dangerous professions in the world. Seafarers are mandated to spend their work hours and their leisure time saved for relaxing at the end of work day on shipboard. This reality shows that in their work and leisure times, the seafarers are exposed to various hazards and risks. To name a few; threats originating from chemical and biological materials, harsh weather conditions, physical challenges, a range of different critical operations, machine operations combined with dangers and risks stemming from harsh working environment and unsatisfactory health conditions.In relation to the above-listed risks and hazards, the limited medical means in particular, insufficient medical intervention and saving service may lead to a more critical nature for any potential accidents occurring at sea. Maintaining optimal medical conditions for seafarers can be directly effective in preventing risks related to safer navigation at sea. MariHealth project; by elevating scope and quality of the health services offered to seafarers, aims to be the leader in forming maritime health domain and to play vital role in the identification of criteria to increase medical status of seafarers on an international scale. Targets of this project, based on the interest and business scopes of relevant associates, have been attentively selected as summed up hereinafter:• The main objective is to design web-based e-learning/training platform for seafarers and maritime doctors that focuses on advanced medical intervention practices on-board ship. Thanks to the distance education program this objective will remedy current knowledge gaps, update existing knowledge and develop practical skills of seafarers to perform better even in the toughest cases requiring medical intervention.In this context, medical training modules for seafarers is developed to improve their first aid skills and knowledge as well as keeping them up to date.• One of the other targets will be, updated basic-level first aid training program will be provided to keep first-aid skills and knowledge of seafarers. This Program will assist seafarers in putting basic life saving techniques into practice and knowing how to tackle with emergency cases• Devising a medical training program in progress to remedy the maritime–related knowledge gap of doctors issuing seafarers’ medical reports and certificate doctors familiar with unique conditions to sea life has also been listed as one of the project goals.In order to fulfill aforementioned aims and targets, a robust consortium was established including three maritime specific-university, one national public body dealing with maritime health affairs, certifications, medical trainings, etc., one research and development company handling IT works, one international seafarers manning agency and one civil society organisation (camber of marine engineers). The profile of the participants were established by considering strong relationship with the scope of MariHEATH project. The participants are qualified marine lecturers, maritime doctors, research and development software specialist, maritime heath regulatory bodies and seafarers (crew) manning professionals. The project activities are including management, implementation and dissemination of the output. Regular meetings, press releases, managing social media are one of the fundamental activities undertaken in MariHEALTH project. The expected results of the project are to enhance medical knowledge level of seafarers as much as possible to perform medical intervene easily to the patients on-board ship,to develop e-training courses (web-based e-learning/training platform), to design mobile phone application, to improve medical consciousness of seafarers and maritime doctors, transform theoretical medical knowledge into high- quality practice training and to increase knowledge level of maritime doctors about shipboard working environment as well as marine-specific injuries, diseases and illnesses. The envisaged impacts of the projects are that a unique online training course modules under web-based e-learning/training platform is created and the medical knowledge performance of seafarers and maritime doctors can be evaluated via MariHEATH project. The potential longer benefits of the projects are recognition of training program by European sea transportation operators will not only raise health consciousness of seafarers to the end of making them more knowledgeable, but it will also immensely contribute to train maritime doctors. Since the project offers an improvement on training modules for maritime doctors and seafarers, it can be the first unique internationalized web based e-learning platform and mobile smartphone application.

Safety is of paramount importance for maritime transportation, in particular narrow and critical waterways. The Turkish Straits are one of the narrowest and natural straits in the world. They enable to international voyage for commercial ships by connecting the Mediterranean Sea (Aegean) to Black Sea. They are considered as one of the most dangerous waterways due to harsh physical environment, strong currents, sharp turns and variable weather conditions that can pose a significant challenge to ships for navigation. It has reached to 50K annually ship passage. Specifically, the Black Sea region seaborne trade (Russia, Romania and Ukraine) has been increasing due to large export commodities such as gas and fuel oil (Caspian Sea region), grain, petrochemical products, etc. The maritime accidents occurred in the Turkish Straits pose acute dangers for human and maritime environment. More than 200 crew (people) died due to ship accidents in the Turkish Straits over the last decades. The congested local ship traffics (including ferries, passegenger ships, fishing vessels, sailing vessels, etc.) and crossing passage frequently interfere with navigation of commercial ships. To avoid ship accidents, training of the seafarers is required. An extensive training involving to increase knowledge and skills of seafarers and local traffic users about navigation requirements, , ships traffic lines, VTS (Vessel Traffic Services) communication, reporting procedures, prevailing sea and variable weather conditions, currents, dangerous areas in the Straits, local ship traffic, etc. are necessary to enhance safety in Turkish Straits. On the other hands, the covid-19 pandemic strongly affected face to face learning & teaching activities. Most of intuitions has been continuing their learning/teaching activities via on-line teaching and learning system (digital platforms). However, maritime practical trainings, in particularly critical waterways such as Turkish Straits, have yet to perform due to insufficient digital teaching and learning activities. In this context, the objectives of this project is to introduce a practical web-based on-line training modules (digital teaching/learning activities) to increase knowledge and ability of Turkish Straits users. The project can minimise potential risks associated with safe navigation of commercial ships and local traffics. Also, the project outcomes (digital teaching/learning modules) are expected to enhance navigational safety and pollution prevention in the Turkish Straits Hence, the end-users (Master of ships, officers, local traffic users, skippers, etc.) will be trained for safer navigation, preventing environmental pollution and minimising commercial losses of shipping companies. The online training modules will include; i.) Training module for seafarers which provides online trainings for Masters and Officers who are sailing in Turkish Straits and shipping companies professionals; ii.) Training Module for Local Users which provides online trainings for skippers of fishing vessels, special yachts, boats, sailing yachts, passenger ships, ferries who are sailing in Turkish Straits.The SafeSTRAITS project will utilize the advantages of seven important initiatives. The consortium of the project consists of two maritime-specific universities (UoS and CMU), one Turkish Straits Maritime Research Center governed by public university (ITU- TSMRC), one maritime council specializing in accreditations and maritime education affairs (DEDEK), one R&D company specializing in IT solutions such as software implementation, IoT development and technologies (ORKA), one international seafarers manning agency (AP&A) and one the largest local traffic user company who has more than 100 ships sailing in Turkish Straits (ISH). The project partners have strong maritime network, experiences about maritime trainings and implementation. The project activities will be including management, implementation and disseminations of the outputs. The work package activities involve designing of virtual platform, development of course & training curriculum, development of online training modules and designing of evaluation &certification module. The expected results of the project are to increase knowledge level and skills of safe navigation related issues of seafarers and local traffic users to prevent ship accident and environmental pollution in the vicinity of Turkish Straits. By developing training modules, theoretical knowledge of the users will be transformed into high-level practice training by improving consciousness of seafarers, local traffic users and maritime professionals about safe navigation in the Straits. The longer benefits of the projects are recognition of online training program by EU ship operators will not only improve consciousness of seafarers and local traffic user about safe navigation, but it will contribute to train maritime professionals, maritime institutions and shipping company.