"he Maritime Sector is currently facing a paradox and difficult situation of a current shortage of young seafarers and also medium- to long-term redundancy threats due to the technical developments: whilst maritime businesses cannot find the desired workforce and young people are not attracted to the sector, the unmanned remote or autonomous ship is on the horizon and the roadmaps indicate that the first remote controlled commercial ship could soon hit the water (Rolls Royce white paper “Remote and Autonomous Ships”, 2016). Therefore, whilst currently there is still a high demand for seafarers and overall numbers in the EU are significant (around 254.000 active seafarers and 25,000 to 35,000 students in Maritime Education and Training), their future employment and career perspectives are very uncertain. The “Skills Beyond the Seas"" Project designed two tools that provide seafarers and MET students with a detailed list of their formal and informal skills and suggests onshore occupations where these skills are applicable and needed. The tools provide these users with options and ideas of new career opportunities and highlight transferable skills sets. They also turn this situation into an opportunity for disadvantaged youth to gain social inclusion by entering a sector in need of young workers and offering high level VET training. The partner consortium of the Skills Beyond the Seas project brought together five partners from four EU countries who are closely linked to the seafarers, MET target groups and youth and are experts in qualification and skills analysis. They jointly: a) analysed and identified transferable hard and job-specific skills that are held by five seafarer qualifications, using ECVET principles of knowledge, skill and competences and IMO Model course curricula, b) identified onshore jobs and careers that utilise these transferable skills (from the obvious university lecturer or shipping company office job to more obscure positions like land surveyor, manager, hotel director, etc.), c) developed the SkillsPath Tool that provides the target groups with options of career moves, d) developed the Informal Skills Scanner that identifies and assesses transversal informal skills held by the user in order to widen their personal skills portfolio and support their career opportunities. Through the Skillspath Tool and the Informal Skills Scanner the Skills Beyond the Seas project offers a pathway to employability and job mobility for existing seafarers and MET students throughout the EU28 and these tools facilitate their transition to on-shore careers by harnessing and validating their specific formal, transversal and informal skills in a comprehensive skills profile. At the same time the project tools offer mid- to long-term perspectives to disadvantaged youth and facilitate thereby their entry into the sector. In a wider perspective, the Skills Beyond the Seas Project has developed scalable and transferable Outputs. By incorporating components of several EU tools into its methodology (such as ECVET, Europass and ESCO), the project developed a model that can easily be transferred to other VET sectors in order to support the mobility of workforce across different sectors and create flexible pathways in line with learners' and employees needs and objectives. The project thereby delivers an important contribution to the “New Skills Agenda for Europe”, that aims at “making better use of the skills that are available” as well as fulfilling the requirements of the ET2020 strategic framework."

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.

A huge number of training materials on International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (ColRegs) are currently available to teach/learn the theory of the rules. Yet, the constant high number of maritime accidents proves that there is a significant difference between what is taught at colleges and academies and what is actually implemented at sea at real situations by officers on watch.Today’s technologies have changed the way in which ships operate, and there is a need to ensure the best use is made of them. For instance, by the introduction of enhanced integrated navigation systems and equipment such as ARPA and ECDIS etc., the decision-making process in terms of taking action to avoid collision is better supported now. However, the curricula of Maritime Education and Training Centres very often do not make the necessary connection between up-to-date navigation technologies and the tuition of the ColRegs. It is left to the officer, to combine these two competences once they start their practical work on a ship and thereby often making wrong use of the decision support systems and thereby interpret collision situations the wrong way. At worst the young officers expect too much simplification by the modern technical means.The project consortium included 6 partners from 5 different EU member countries. The partnership consortium is made up by private companies, public bodies and VET institutions from Turkey, Romania, Spain, Poland and Germany, who all have an extensive experience within the maritime sector.The NEO-COL project has worked towards close this skills gap by identifying the differences between theory and real application and developing the best and most realistic way of incorporating modern electronic navigation devices into the teaching of Collision Regulations.NEO-COL conducted a needs analysis and the investigation of past collisions and:- Developed an online Training Course for the best action possible and most realistic way of incorporating modern electronic navigation devices into the teaching of Collision Regulations customised for all type of vessels considering the navigation equipment and tools available, and- Designed an Assessment Tool that provides the user with a genuine certificate for the newly acquired skills.NEO-COL contributes to the ease of maritime traffic, safety of lives at sea, and the environmental protection of the seas.The training offered by the NEO-COL online Training Course and the assessment tool have a direct impact on mariners by giving specific knowledge to the user of how to apply the ColRegs in specific scenarios given the specific equipment on board. After the module and assessment provided by this project the mariners gained/will have gained better skills and knowledge to correctly interpret a situation of potential collision by carrying out the corrective action.

The maritime industry has a shortage of qualified personnel, especially in Europe. Further employment in the maritime sector can help solve Europe's major unemployment crisis, especially youth unemployment. Throughout Europe, maritime education and training qualifications of one country have not been recognised by other countries in Europe. One major contributing factor for this shortage of qualified personnel is a lack of internationally recognised maritime qualifications and lack of entrepreneurial activities, which inhibits the mobility of seafarers and shipbuilding personnel in finding work in their countries and/or different countries, starting up the business and reducing these shortages. The SEAMAP project has addressed the need for cooperation between VET and the world of work in the maritime sector by fostering integration of maritime working life into maritime institution-based VET and enhancing the entrepreneurial skills of the people dealing with the maritime issues. This was achieved by the promotion of more work related activities in the intended VET programmes, including the innovative models of work placement, maritime career platform and entrepreneurship. The project team has identified and map available maritime jobs /placements and business start-up both at sea and ashore in partner countries. The main benefits of the project are to improve the attractiveness of the maritime industry, to provide increased mobility across, to foster the career guidance, to enhance the placement opportunities and to develop the entrepreneurial competences of the people at maritime and VET sectors. The project has four main objectives: to support internationally recognised seafaring qualifications as a response to current identified shortages of seafarers and employees at shipbuilding sector and help companies to recruit personnel who are qualified to undertake various maritime employment and placements opportunities at sea or ashore, including ship operating, ship building, maritime service sector, etc. to create opportunities for young trainees and maritime personnel to find jobs commensurate with their qualifications to develop the entrepreneurial competences at sea or ashore including maritime service sector and ship building sectors by need analysis. to create a web based platform to unify job seekers/trainees and job/placement providers in a medium which will allow both parties easier access to jobs/placements and bring employees/trainees together respectively. The platform will provide a range of support services to aid the skills development of trainees/personnel in order to find jobs which meet their qualifications and to start-up their own business (entrepreneurial competences) in the maritime sector. The project consortium consists of six major and leading maritime and or educational organisations, with most partners having many years of experience in EU projects. Most of the partners are policymakers and decision makers, with some being social partners in the maritime and educational sectors. The expected results during the project and on its completion are: - Need Analysis: Collating, Classifying and Mapping the Available Maritime Jobs (Maritime Job Profiles) - Content Development for the Platform: designing and configuring the content of the online platform – with 5 languages (English, Turkish, Spanish, Romanian and Polish) - Creating and configuring the online platform (Maritime Career Platform): www.see4sea.com - Case Study: Online Questionnaire and Need Analysis about the entrepreneurial skills in maritime sector - Elaborating the content and training material: Entrepreneurship Training Material for Maritime Sector The project has had an impact on creating opportunities for people in maritime sector to find jobs commensurate with their qualifications. As a project impact the project has provided an innovative web-based platform (www.see4sea.com) for seafarers and related personnel and shipbuilding personnel to develop their skills and ultimately find their dream job, whilst similarly catering for employers and helping them to employ the best and most qualified person for a position. Developing an innovative matching platform has reduced the skills mismatch which is the gap between an individual’s job skills and the demands of the labour market which affects all layers of society, from the productivity and efficiency of businesses to the current and prospective welfare of people in the maritime sector. As more qualified personal can be employed by the help of the platform, it will have an impact on safety at sea hence reducing accidents and loss of life, money and adverse effect on the well-being of the workforce / workplace.