Maritime Education for a Digital Industry

The maritime industry is undergoing a digital revolution, and the high pace of change is expected to continue with the adoption of artificial intelligence and increased levels of automation on the horizon. These changes present many opportunities for innovation and improvements to the existing maritime industry, but they also pose a range of challenges. This paper will specifically examine the effects of these changes on seafarers, with regard paid to their education, and ongoing professional development over the length of a career. The evolving working context is resulting in the core skillset of seafarers to grow, particularly in relation to digital literacy. The January 2021 deadline of the IMO’s cyber risk management Resolution MSC.428(98) has drawn attention to the capability and knowledge deficit in relation to cyber security within the industry’s IT and OT infrastructure. As IT system grow in their usage and OT systems become more connected, and are modernized, seafarers need to still be able to use the existing technology, while becoming proficient in the new, creating a complex transition environment, with limited access or time to undertake professional development. This paper describes several new education approaches that are aiming to equip seafarers and other industry members to this changing knowledge landscape.