When Europe's maritime industry gathered in Brussels to set the direction for future seafaring skills, Nautilus International made sure it was your concerns leading the conversation.
Unions, shipowners, training bodies and European Commission officials came together on 31 March for the European Maritime Skills Forum (EMSF) – and Nautilus assistant general secretary Sascha Meijer was right at the centre of it. Representing the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF), she opened the forum and closed the plenary session, with one message running throughout, she said: getting through this transition means working together, being honest, and sharing the load.
It's about people, not just technology
With the industry changing fast – new fuels, new tech, new ways of working – the question remains how to prepare the maritime workforce without leaving seafarers behind.
Futureproofing maritime skills isn’t just about green innovation or digital tools. It's about the people doing the job, Ms Meijer said. 'We can only futureproof maritime skills through genuine cooperation across our industry,' she told delegates – stressing that attracting new talent, keeping Europe's fleet independent, and maintaining safety all depend on the industry pulling in the same direction.
She also made the case for why trade unions matter in all of this, pointing out that the union movement remains the strongest channel for bringing seafarers' real, day-to-day experiences into the policy rooms where decisions get made.
The EMSF – launched in early 2025 by the ETF and the European Community Shipowners' Association – focuses on three areas: green skills, digital transformation, and leadership and workplace culture. Nautilus is actively involved in two of them, with head of international relations Danny McGowan contributing to the digital workstream and Council vice chair Captain Henk Eijkenaar supporting the leadership and culture work.
Progress – but more to do
Ms Meijer welcomed the work done so far but didn't shy away from the challenges still ahead. Green and digital training gaps are already creating real operational safety risks, and a shortage of qualified trainers is slowing the decarbonisation transition. She called on the sector to get better at sharing best practices and to rethink what good employment looks like in 2026.
She made the case for rethinking how seafarers work altogether – with more flexible labour models that support a better work-life balance and open the door to a more diverse workforce. Think lifecycle contracts where time aboard, ashore, short-sea and deep-sea can flex across a career. Better for retention, better for recruitment, better for diversity and better for the long-term health of Europe's fleet.
The momentum is there – now it's time to turn it into action
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